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Answers in Boxes

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How could it be that a prayer goes unanswered?

Some will tell you that every prayer is answered, but sometimes the answer is, "no."

Those who say this do not understand the secret of prayer. For prayer is when a consciousness below breaks out of its ego and causes delight to the Consciousness Above. And when delight is brought Above, it must return below.

So some will tell you that, yes, the prayer is always answered, but perhaps only in a spiritual realm. Not always can a prayer affect the coarseness of our material world.

Yet this also cannot be, for the consciousness below did not pray for a spiritual blessing, but for a material one. The place from whence the prayer emitted, to there the blessing must return.

Rather, it must be that every prayer is answered, in our world, now, for the one who prayed and for that which he prayed.

The problem is only in the packaging -- that it is packaged in the artifacts of our coarse and dark world, so that at times we cannot see through the wrappings to discover the answer to our prayer.

But there will be a time when all of us will return to the One Above with all our hearts, and then all the concealment of this world will be shattered. The wrappings will fall away and we will see how each prayer was answered in its time. And we will hold all the blessings of all those millennia in our hands.

Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.
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Discussion (9)
September 22, 2010
answered prayers
This is the most amazing insight about prayers being answered. It really incentivises us to pray more carefully. Thanks.
Anonymous
Thornhill, Canada
September 17, 2010
Answered prayers
I found this post to be full of astonishing spiritual insight. Thank you so much. I have shared it with the people who read my interfaith site. Bless you.

P.S. I'm Catholic.
Lisa Bowman
Sierra Madre, CA
September 16, 2010
packaging
This post describes what you mean by packaging. You used it a couple posts back without defining it. I get it now. The packaging concept doesn't bother me. I am not sitting here looking for signs that my prayers get answered. As you point out there may be too much 'static' in the air/subconscious. It's nice to know that all the prayers do get answered. That's enough to keep me praying.
Anonymous
September 16, 2010
Experience!
Whatever described in this write up is so true. I have experienced this many times (perhaps all the time). ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS IS ALWAYS GIVEN. I agree totally. Many thanks to Rabbi Freeman.

Regards.
Shahid
September 16, 2010
Asked and Answered
Each prayer is made in its time- when its maker is ready to call out. Then, the answer, already present, is perceived. Like the reward for a mitzvah is the mitzvah, itself, the "answer" to a prayer is the act of praying.
Anonymous
Portsmouth, OH
September 16, 2010
what is the answer?
but what if you pray for your loved one to get a certain job and he doesn't get it or any job? How has that particular prayer for a concrete needed result been answered affirmatively?
Anonymous
Newton, MA
September 16, 2010
prayer connection
When the delight pf prayer is brought from a person below, is it a direct return from above to the person praying below or does the delight from above return to the world in a more general sense?
Do people have a direct connection to G-d through prayer? or is it more diffuse in it's return?
Anonymous
ma., ma.
September 16, 2010
Praying
I'm often able to see/perceive the answers to my prayers straightaway. I have the feelings my prayers are answered immediately. The only one prayer which has not materialised yet, is to find my zivug (soulmate), Suppose the answer is, not yet?
Devorah
Maastricht, Netherlands
September 16, 2010
Answered prayers
How wonderfull!!!
I got a totally new insight.
And it is true!!!
Thank you so much, Rabbi Freeman!

Have a blessed Jom Kippur.
Michal
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