Welcome to the Daily Chizuk. The pasuk (verse) says in Divrei HaYamim that we should take pride in the name of Hashem. Why? Says Rashi: Because anyone who really believes in Hashem, Hashem will come to his aid. Like the rest of the pasuk says, and Rashi explains: all those who pray to Hashem the right way will rejoice in their heart with the salvation that they will receive.
The Chazon Ish writes in a letter: those who pray hard for salvation accomplish more than those who actively pursue it. Prayer is the greatest hishtadlut (effort), but it has to be done with the right attitude. What is that attitude? David HaMelech tells us in Tehillim: “Please, Hashem, turn to me and show me favor.” Why? Because, because I'm all alone and I'm impoverished. And the sefer Ashrei HaIsh explains: usually, the way it works in this world is, if you need help and you go ask someone, the greater your stature, the better your chances are of being helped. If you are well connected with high-ranking officials, or you're a man of means, people will naturally want to help you, thinking that one day they'll probably need your help. Therefore, the more a person has, the more confident he is when seeking help.
But David HaMelech knows that when it comes to Hashem, just the opposite is true. The more you realize that you have nothing to offer, that you're helpless, and that you have no other way of achieving salvation, the greater your chances are of being helped. And therefore, David HaMelech says, “Please help me, Hashem, ki yachid ve'ani ani.” I'm alone. I have no connections. I'm poor. Although David HaMelech was the king, he truly believed that everything he had meant nothing. My only means of salvation is Hashem. And when you really believe that all you have is Hashem, then you can take pride in His name, because you have emunah (faith), and Hashem will come to your aid. It's not easy to have these feelings. But tefillah (prayer) with this attitude pierces the heavens.
A man told me that his company recently restructured and created five different divisions. There were 20 salespeople, and a few would be assigned to run each division. 19 people were assigned to the first; some had five people per division, and some people had four per division. And now there was one division left, and one salesman. And the company said to him, you are in charge of this final division by yourself. This company had never sold this category of merchandise, nor had the salesman. And now the salesman was in charge of worldwide sales, with no contacts and no help. He told his employer, “This is impossible. It's destined for failure.” They said, “Sorry, this is all we have for you.”
So the man, recognizing that there was no normal means of hishtadlut, turned to Hashem and prayed. He said, “Hashem, I'm all alone and helpless. There is no one who can help me except you. Please help me.” A day and a half later, the salesman got a phone call out of the blue from an individual that he used to work with in sales ten years before. The man asked, “I just wanted to see what you're up to these days.” The salesman said, “Well, I've just been put in charge of a division that I know nothing about, and I have no contacts.” The salesman told him what he was selling. The man replied, “Wow, I've been selling that item for the last two years, and I have sales reps all over the country who have intimate relationships with every major retailer. I've been looking for a new line to sell. Maybe we could get together.” A week later, all 28 sales representatives flew in from around the country for a meeting in this salesman's office. And a partnership was formed.
Hashem brought the yeshuah keheref ayin (salvation in the blink of an eye). When we are ma'amin (believing) that only Hashem can help, then, as Rashi says, hu ya'azrenu, Hashem will help, and then we'll be able to take pride in His name. Have a great day.