In this week’s parsha, we read the moving story of Hagar and Yishmael’s journey in the wilderness—a story that teaches us a powerful lesson about how Hashem opens our eyes to see the blessings that are already right in front of us.

When Hagar and Yishmael were sent away, they wandered through the desert with only a limited amount of water. When their provisions ran out, Hagar was overcome with fear, facing what seemed like certain death for her son.

In her anguish, she placed Yishmael under a bush and moved away, crying out in despair, unable to bear the sight of his suffering.

But it is at this moment of deepest despair that something miraculous happens: Hashem hears the cries of Yishmael, and an angel calls out to Hagar, encouraging her to lift her eyes.

And then, the Torah tells us, “Vayifkach Elokim et Eineha”—“And God opened her eyes”—and she saw a well of water. The water was there all along, but Hagar needed Hashem to open her eyes to see it.

The Midrash tells us that everything is hidden until Hashem opens our eyes.

This story is a reminder that everything we need, every bracha (blessing) and every opportunity, is already there; sometimes, we’re simply unable to see it because it’s obscured by our fears, anxieties, or limited perspective. 

When we feel that we’re “wandering in the desert” of our own lives—struggling, feeling lost, or facing challenges that seem insurmountable—it’s easy to feel that there’s no way forward, no relief in sight.

But just as with Hagar, Hashem’s help is often closer than we realize.

How often do we find ourselves in situations where we feel desperate for a solution, a breakthrough, or a sense of hope? We pray for blessings in health, parnassah (livelihood), relationships, or clarity in our lives.

We think we need something new or external to make things better, yet Hashem often shows us that the answer, the bracha we need, is already there, waiting to be revealed.

This story encourages us to remember that our tefillot can bring down Hashem’s light, which opens our eyes to the potential and blessings right in front of us.

Just as Hagar’s moment of seeing the well transformed her situation, so too can our own perspectives shift when Hashem opens our eyes.

May we always remember to ask Hashem not only for help but for the clarity to see the blessings He’s already placed in our lives. 

May we merit that Hashem will “open our eyes” to see the wells of abundance and possibility surrounding us, hidden only until we are ready to perceive them.

In this way, we can live our lives with emunah (faith), bitachon (trust) and gratitude, knowing that Hashem has already provided everything we need.

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