Each morning we recite a series of Berachot known as "Birkot Ha'shachar," or "the morning blessings." A review of the text of these Berachot reveals that most are written in the present tense. For example, we praise G-d "Ha'noten La'sechvi Bina" who "gives" wisdom and understanding to differentiate between night and day. In one Beracha we describe G-d as "Pokei'ach Ivrim" "who opens the eyes of the blind," referring to His granting us the ability to open our eyes in the morning. Likewise, we say "Matir Asurim" "who releases those who are bound" referring to the fact that in the morning we are "released," so-to-speak, from the restricting confines of sleep. Another Beracha refers to G-d as "Zokeif Kefufim," the One who allows us to stand erect. Since G-d grants us these abilities each day, we naturally recite these Berachot in the present tense.
Interestingly, however, the Beracha of "She'asa Li Kol Tzorki" "who has provided me with all my needs" is composed in the past tense. Why is specifically this Beracha formulated in the past tense? Doesn't G-d "provide us with our needs" each day, just like His other kindnesses, which we describe in the other Berachot in the present form?
The answer, perhaps, is that very often a person recognizes that G-d provides him "with all his needs" only in retrospect. When one arises in the morning and gets out of bed, he immediately recognizes and appreciates his G-d-given ability to distinguish between night and day, to open his eyes, to stand erect, and so on. These Berachot, therefore, can legitimately be recited in the present tense, because one immediately experiences and recognizes these abilities that G-d has granted him. But not always does a person acknowledge that G-d has provided him with all his needs. Many people confront various kinds of problems, such as illness or unemployment, and thus cannot wholeheartedly express gratitude to the Almighty for providing them with "all their needs." But it very often happens that later one looks back at the hardships of the past and recognizes how they were, in truth, for the best, that even during the difficult periods, G-d was actually providing him with his needs. Losing a job often results in a better job; illness at times leads to spiritual growth or serves to atone for one's wrongdoing. In retrospect, one can look back upon his troubles of the past and appreciate that even they reflected the concept of "She'asa Li Kol Tzorki," that G-d provides us with all our needs.
Therefore, specifically this Beracha was formulated in the past tense, given that very often one can acknowledge that G-d has provided him with all his needs only in retrospect, when he can look back with the advantage of hindsight, and see how even the difficult periods of the past actually helped provide him with "all his needs."
