When it comes to any endeavor, there is a greater likelihood that one will succeed when he approaches it with emunah.
Rebbe Moshe of Kobrin zt'l (Toras Avos, Emunah u'bitachon 46) said, "The Lechovitzer told me to build a house. He said, 'If you build it on the earth, it will stand. But if you build it on your head, it won't last.' [He meant that he should build the home with emunah and bitachon.] 'It is a mitzvah to tell balabatim how much siyata dishmaya I saw from following this counsel.'"
The Gemara (Brachos 8.) says that when someone got married in Eretz Yisrael, people would ask the chasan מוצא או מצא. מצא is as in the pasuk (Mishlei 18:22), אשה מצא טוב מצא, "One who has found a wife has found goodness." מוצא is as in the pasuk (Koheles 7:26), האשה את ממות מר אני ומוצא, "I have found, more bitter than death, the woman." They were asking the chasan whether his wife, for him, was like finding goodness or whether his married life was more bitter than death.
This Gemara arouses some questions. Firstly, why is it their business whether his wife is good or bad? Secondly, it seems that the question will cause lashon hara. (The Chofetz Chaim [1:13] discusses why this conversation doesn't involve lashon hara.) Furthermore, the chasan just got married. How should he know whether his wife is good or bad?
We can also ask about the words במערבא אמרי "in Eretz Yisrael they would say [to the chasan] מצא or מוצא." Since they were asking a question, it should state שאלי במערבא, "In Eretz Yisrael, they would ask."
We can answer that אשה מצא is when he believes Hashem helped him find his wife. In contrast, אני מוצא, "I found" is when one thinks he found his wife on his own. If he believes he found his wife on his own, it will be ממות מר, more bitter than death. This is because emunah brings success in shalom bayis, parnassah, and all aspects of life. One must never forget that it is never אני מוצא, "I found." Whatever he has, Hashem gave him.
Rebbe Bunim of Peshischa zt'l (Imrei HaRim Beshalach) says that when we pray, בעצה ותקננו מלפניך טובה, "Prepare us with good counsel" what we are really asking for is emunah, as we say (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) אמונה עצתו. When we have emunah, we will automatically find the right solutions, and Hashem will direct us on the best path.
Chazal (Shabbos 31.) say, זרעים סדר זה אמונת, that the tractate Zeraim (in Shas) is about emunah. Zeraim discusses the halachos of agriculture. Why is it called emunah? Tosfos writes, וזורע עולמים בחי שמאמין, "It is because he believes in the Creator of the worlds, and plants." How does planting demonstrate that he believes in Hashem?
The Chidushei HaRim zt'l (Sefer HaZechus) explains that the highest level of emunah is when one does hishtadlus, knowing that the hishtadlus doesn't bring the results, only Hashem's kindness does. The test is to believe in Hashem even when you plant, and you do hishtadlus. Nevertheless, be aware that the results are from Hashem, not your hand's strength. And with your emunah, you will succeed.
