Prayer of Pain

It is clear from reading the pessukim in the parsha that the turning point in the slavery, when Hashem decides its time for redemption is brought about via prayer.  This prayer doesn’t seem to be one of tremendous greatness or demonstrative of any great spiritual connection to Hashem, it is merely a cry of pain.  Yet the Bechai writes that this is the cry of agony is the most wholesome prayer service that one can have.  Why is this form of prayer the most complete form of prayer?  How is this better than a premeditated form of prayer filled with deep kabalistic intents?  The Chidushai Halev explains that prayer is avodah she’blev.  It is about one’s connection to Hashem, how reliant the individual becomes on Hashem.  It is because of the pain, sorrow and anguish that a person will recognize that s/he has no place to turn but toward Hashem that will make one feel the utmost connection to Hashem.

The Yalkut Shemoni (Yermiyahu 327) says when Klal Yisroel was going into the exile, Yirmiyahu brought before them Moshe and they started crying.  Yermuyahu told them if they had cried once before the exile it wouldn’t have happened.  We see from here that one cry of pain could’ve stopped the entire exile that we have been stuck in for so many years.

How many times do I speed through the daily prayers, my mind wandering?  How many times do I actually pay attention to the words in grace after meals?  Yet, Chazal understood that it is prayer that is a necessity to bring about the geulah and put it in to our prayers and benching so many times.  How about uttering the words with some feeling?  The pain of the regular grind of live is enough to make one want the geulah. That itself will indeed be the best prayer as the Bechai teaches us.  Maybe it is indeed worthy of taking out time to study the meaning of these holy words and hopefully that will lead to a more meaningful and heartfelt prayer service.  (For the akshanim in the crowd see Responsa Chasam Sofer volume 6 siman 86, Avnei Nezer Yorah Deah 454 and the Sefer Tzepesa L’yehoshu by Rav Chaim Yaakov Lebovitz chapter 1 part 4.)  

I am bothered by the many expressions the Torah uses to describe the prayers of Klal Yisroel.  In chapter 2 verses 23-24 we find the word ויאנחו, שועתם, נעקתם.  Then further on when Hashem is talking to Moshe, chapter 3 verses 7 and 9 the prayer is referred to as צעקתם, why is the language to describe their prayer constantly being switched?