Welcome to the Daily Chizuk. These days are called Yamim Noraim, days of fear and trembling. We don't know what the future holds for us; it's all being decided now. Rabbi Shlomo Ibn Gabirol writes in a piyut (liturgical poem), “Evrach mimcha eilecha,” I want to run away from you, to you. We want to run away from the fear of Hashem, but where do we run? Back to Hashem.
Mashal (parable): A child whose father was going to chastise him gets scared and starts running away. But where does he run? Under his father's cloak for protection. Who is going to protect me? Only my daddy. Although Hashem is Malkenu, our king, He is also Avinu, our father. What better place to seek refuge than with our loving father? We have to get closer to Hashem during these days and beg for mercy.
The Pasuk (verse) says in Tehillim, “Hineh ke'einei avadim el yad adoneihem,” Like the eyes of a slave are turned towards his master, so too our eyes are turned towards Hashem until He favors us. Rabbi Falk explained that when a slave is in trouble, it's usually because of the master. He has either been denied food and is hungry, denied blankets and is cold, or has been physically punished. Yet who does the slave turn to in this difficult time? The master—the same master who has been chastising him. He doesn't run to another source and ask for help. He knows his master is loving. He knows his master only did it for his benefit. Who better to turn to? The master knows what he's going through right now better than anyone else. Furthermore, the slave knows it's in the master's best interest that he should be happy, healthy, and strong so he can do his job properly. The master himself wants to take away the affliction more than the slave wants it. It hurts the master to see the slave like this. Therefore, although the slave knows that the master is the source of his troubles, he knows there is no one better to turn to for mercy than the master himself.
David HaMelech says that, so too, when we are in difficult or scary situations, we know the situations came from Hashem and they are sent not to hurt us but only to improve us. Hashem understands what we're going through, and He wants us to be happy more than we are hurt. These days of awe are all for our benefit. If there was nothing on the line, nobody would ever become better. So we turn to Hashem. We realize it's a serious time, but we know Hashem can shelter us.
Rabbi Natan Wachtfogel quoted the Gemara in Bava Metzia, which talks about a time when Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi was in the slaughterhouse. There was a calf there that was afraid to be slaughtered, so it ran under Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi's cloak and was whimpering. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said, “Go to be slaughtered. This is why you were created.” The Gemara said that Hashem wasn't happy with that response. Rabbi Wachtfogel asked, “We know the Gemara tells us elsewhere that the purpose of an animal is to be slaughtered properly and consumed by a Jew. So why was Hashem upset?” He answered that even though the animal was supposed to be slaughtered, if it runs to you for protection, then Middat HaRachamim (attribute of mercy) says you have to save it anyway. Who has more Rachamim than Hashem? Who has more mercy? Even if we are unworthy, if we call out to Hashem for protection, He'll be there for us and He'll help us anyway. This is the greatest time of year for prayer, as the Pasuk says: Hashem is so close to us now. Let us get close to Him and seek refuge in His shade. Have a great day.