This concept has great relevance to our lives. There may be many times when we think about approaching Hashem for help and may say to ourselves, “Am I worthy? Do I have the right to ask, let alone expect, Hashem to grant this request? Am I so great that Hashem should change the course of events for me?”
And the answer may well be no, our merit alone is not sufficient. Based on who we are, based on what we have done, it may very well be that we have no right to expect these things from Hashem.
However, our Sages were very wise when they crafted our prayers; they are based on invoking the merits of the Avos. When we make requests of Hashem, we begin by doing so in the merit of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. As children of the Avos, we ask that Hashem remember their righteousness and answer our requests in their merit, not our own. By ourselves, we may not merit health, well-being or parnassah, but we ask that in the z’chus of our forefathers, Hashem have mercy.
Understanding this concept can help us relate to the unique power and effect our prayers can have – well above what we may be entitled to.
