By Rabbi Ari Waldman

Students were jostling with each other. A students father delivered a bulk box of chocolate's to be given out to friends - everyone was trying to get some of the treat. Students were shouting Here Here !! Can I have? One shy student was standing in the crowd just hoping to get some. The chocolate disappeared, the shy boy didn't get any. He mustered up some courage he asked the would be chocolate giver why "Why didn't you give me any?"  He answered "because you didn't ask!"

My question is, does Hashem also want us to ask?

The answer is yes - Hashem wants us to ask. Proof is from Bereishies 2 Pasuk 5 which tells us the shrubs and the didn't yet grow for there was no man to work the land . Rashi says there was no man to recognize the goodness of the rain; when Adam was created he recognized their necessity and prayed for rain "The rain fell , and trees and grass grew." We see from here that the need to ask Hashem was already built in to creation by Hashem .

Now you can ask but Hashem knows what I need, why can't he just give me, why do I need to ask?

The answer is when we ask Hashem that comes from the clarity of faith that...

a. Hashem is listening

b. Only Hashem can deliver the goods

So we ask Hashem for what we need and through that we have a relationship with Hashem. Harav Shalom Arush Shlita countless times in his Garden Of Emuna Book says Emuna is prayer. A person who asks Hashem has a relationship with Hashem. Its up to us to make our relationship personal. I need x, you need y so ask Hashem. Anytime of day. The more you ask the closer to Hashem you will feel and more chances of your prayer to be answered.

Remember the need to pray was built into creation, you ask you get....

The Rashi quoted told us that the rain had to be appreciated and asked for, then Hashem delivered . That's the way Hashem wants it to be for our own good to have a relationship with Him.