When going through a hard time, r"l, one feels relieved knowing that there is at least one route he can follow that will save him from his tzarah.
For example, a poor man who needs money to pay for an upcoming chasunah feels somewhat relieved knowing he has a relative who might help him.
The Kedushas Yom Tov teaches that it would be better if one didn't know of any solution at all. For at such times, he will turn his eyes only to Hashem to save him.
When Bnei Yisroel left Mitzrayim, Hashem wanted them to travel through the desert, and not through the land of the Plishtim, as it states (13:17-18)... "It came to pass when Pharaoh let the people go, that Hashem did not lead them by way of the land of the Plishtim for it was near... Lest the people reconsider when they see war and return to Mitzrayim. So, Hashem led them around by way of the desert..."
The Kedushas Yom Tov explains that if they would travel through the Plishtim, and be attacked, they would think they could save themselves by returning to Mitzrayim. As it states, ...which can be translated to mean that when they see war, they will say that they can return to Mitzrayim and be safe. This thought process would indicate that they relied on their hishtadlus, not Hashem.
Hashem, therefore, preferred that they travel through the desert. If they were confronted with a war, they would have nowhere to escape, and they would pray to Hashem. For when one doesn't have any plan or idea of how to save himself, it is the best scenario because then he trusts in Hashem alone.
It states (Devarim 7:17-18)... "If you say to yourself, 'These nations are more numerous than I; how will I be able to drive them out? You shall not fear them..." Binah L'ittim (drush 24) explains that it is fortunate when the Jewish people say that the nations are stronger than them because then they will rely on Hashem. When you recognize that the nations are stronger than you, ... "You don’t have to be afraid of them." You will place your trust in Hashem, so you have nothing to fear. But if you feel that you are strong and that you can fight with the goyim with your strength, you have reason to be afraid.
The Shlah HaKadosh zt'l (letter 33) also teaches this lesson from the same pasuk (Devarim 7:17-18). We quote: ... if you will admit to the truth that by the rules of nature you can't win the war because ... the goyim are more numerous, and you know that will only succeed with Hashem's help, then, ... you need not fear them because Hashem will help you. But if you will say (Devarim 8:17) ... that you have might and strength – you have reason to fear them."
The end of this week's parashah discusses the war against Amalek, which Klal Yisrael won. The Ksav Sofer zt'l says that one might think that the Yidden won the war because they were mightier than Amalek. For that is the way of war, the stronger army wins. To correct this train of thought, Moshe Rabbeinu built a mizbeiach and called it (17:15) ... "Hashem is my miracle.'" Rashi writes, "Whoever mentions the name of the mizbeiach remembers that Hashem performed a miracle." The Ksav Sofer zt'l explains that Hashem performed many miracles, and Moshe didn't feel it necessary to build a mizbeiach and to name it ... to remind people that the miracle was from Hashem. Why did Moshe do it this time? It is because people tend to think a war is won according to the rules of nature. To correct this error, Moshe called the mizbeiach ... "Hashem is my miracle," to remind people that a miracle occurred.
It states (17:11)... "It came to pass that when Moshe would raise his hand, Yisrael would prevail, and when he would lay down his hand, Amalek would prevail." The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 29.) asks, "Do Moshe's hands make or break a war?" Why should Moshe's holding up his hands cause them to win the war? "Rather, this tells you that when Yisrael looked towards heaven, they bound their heart to their Father in heaven, and they prevailed..." Rebbe Yechiel of Alexander zt'l explains that they "looked" with their intellect "to heaven" and recognized that they were fighting with Hashem's strength, not their own. When they realized that, they succeeded in the war.
In the Tachanun that is said on Mondays and Thursdays, we say ... "... We toiled and we didn't have respite." We can explain that this is discussing a person who made hishtadlus, but his attempts didn't bring about any results. That is good, because now he will know to rely on Hashem. Then it will be ... that the salvation is near. For when one relies on Hashem, he will succeed.
Another hint is from Avos (4:4) ... which can be translated as, "When is there hope for man? When he knows that he is ... nothing but worms. When a person realizes this, he will trust in Hashem and then he will receive his salvation (Imrei Emes, written in Imrei Kodesh Likutim p.283).
Reb Moshe of Kobrin zy'a taught (15:26) ... when you know ... that Hashem is present and that Hashem helps us, that is the greatest cure and the best counsel for all issues.
