Bitachon Is Worthwhile, Even If We Are Sent Reminders
Even the Ba’al Bitachon Needs Periodic Reminders
We have noted that even the greatest ba’al bitachon sometimes falls back in his complete trust, and thus he requires reminders from Above in order to awaken him and strengthen his emunah and bitachon.
In addition, we have noted that these reminders serve the purpose of propelling a person forward to grow in his bitachon—not to rest on his laurels and not to remain on one level of bitachon, for the mitzvah of emunah and bitachon is a vehicle for the person to grow closer to Hashem. And for this reason, a person is reminded periodically to keep advancing up the ladder of bitachon.
Reminders for the Righteous
When we understand this, we can understand many of the questions that arise in the area of bitachon. Many ask about instances of ורע צדיק לו, when suffering comes to the righteous—when we see someone who does have bitachon but nevertheless experiences challenges.
In truth, there are many answers to this question. One may be that Hashem gives a person pain in This World so he will be spared agony in the next. But in addition to all these answers, we must take into account that the Ribbono shel Olam has designed the creation in a way that when we forget about Him, we’re reminded about Him so we will grow higher.
This person may truly be a tzaddik and a ba’al bitachon, but if he has become comfortable where he is and there forgot about Hashem, he will be sent a reminder so that he will be able to advance up the ladder. This is the way of the world, and it applies to everyone, regardless of their level of bitachon.
Finding the Little Holes
This is also an answer to a person who thinks, “I relied upon Hashem, I learned about bitachon, I even witnessed instances where my bitachon helped me, I thought that I am already immune from challenges... but now, I don’t feel so much יסובבנו חסד בה' הבוטח—even though I try my best to trust and believe.
But the truth is that this is not a contradiction. To the contrary, the ba’al bitachon must examine and introspect. Find the places where you did rely upon a human being. Find the times that you invested so much toil and hard work that you forgot that the Ribbono shel Olam is in charge. Then you will understand that you’re getting the friendliest and most loving reminder from Hashem to come closer to Him.
Afraid to Work on Bitachon
It is also worth pondering this point regarding another question that people have in the sugya of bitachon: Many people say that they’re afraid to study and work on bitachon because the higher they reach, the more they will be tested by Hashem to determine whether they’re truly on that new level.
One person expressed it this way: “As long as I haven’t entered the sugya of bitachon, Hashem won’t give me difficult nisyonos and challenges. We know that בריותיו עם בטרוניא בא הקב"ה אין, Hashem doesn’t deal tyrannically with His creations, but with mercy. But if I will elevate my bitachon, Hashem may challenge me to see if I’m truly holding there.... I don’t want the nisyonos of the tzaddikim.... Let me stay the way I am, with the smaller challenges of today.
The Ba’al Bitachon Merits More Shefa
People make this mistake because they think that bitachon is a type of segulah which we can choose whether to do, depending on whether or not it’s convenient... a choice, like the waiter is offering you to choose between beef or chicken...
But the truth is that we’re talking about a choice between darkness and light. A Yid who has bitachon lives with the light of Hashem, the Source of all shefa, while one who doesn’t rely on Hashem lives in the bitter darkness. He has untethered himself from Hashem, and he will thus receive less shefa. This is the system with which the world has been designed: One who remembers the Ribbono shel Olam will merit more shefa—and no one can avoid this system. It is impossible that a person who chooses darkness rather than to work on his bitachon will have a better life.
In other words, someone who says that it’s easier or more convenient not to have bitachon, is essentially saying, “It’s preferable for me not to eat at all rather than choosing my meal.” When a person chooses not to have bitachon, he is ripping himself away from the Source of shefa—and he will thus not merit to have shefa. This is the reality of creation. It was designed this way long before we came into the world; a person must connect himself to the Source by relying upon It.
Even the Ba’al Bitachon Has Challenges
At the same time, we cannot think that just because we have bitachon we will no longer be presented with challenges. There will surely be situations in which you will forget about the Ribbono shel Olam, or become too comfortable in your state of bitachon, and then you will be sent reminders from Above. Not because you’re being punished for your bitachon, but because every inhabitant of this world is sent periodic reminders. It’s impossible otherwise.
It is clear and obvious that the life of the ba’al bitachon is much better than the life of a person who doesn’t have bitachon—because a person who chooses the good, to become closer to Hashem through bitachon, becomes closer to the Source of shefa of the world. Even a non-Jew who chooses to remember Hashem and to rely on Him will have a better and more successful life.
Why do you think that you will be punished for choosing to be close to Hashem—like the נחש who was punished with a life of always having his food available to him, never having a connection with Hashem? Why would you be banished for doing something great? The Ribbono shel Olam is happy with you, and He will reward you by drawing you even closer! And for this reason, he may remind you of this relationship—but by no means does a person incur tzaros, R”l, on account of his bitachon. Yes, things may sometimes feel darker—until the person will discover new vistas of bitachon and elevate himself to greater levels of trust.
The Risk of Serenity Rooted in Practical Wisdom
When we appreciate this yesod, we can understand why it is so foolish to simply calm ourselves through a method of חיים חכמת, practical wisdom—to accept our circumstances simply because we understand that this is the wise course.
Someone who lives such a life is really looking for convenience—instead of for ways to remember Hashem. He slowly but surely becomes more distant from the Ribbono shel Olam—and he may need to be reminded to return to a life of closeness to Hashem.
The Difference in the Bitachon of a Yid
This all holds true for a non-Jew just as it does for a Yid—the only way to have success in this world is by relying on Hashem, which brings us closer to the Source of shefa.
But there’s a difference: We Yidden have been given a clear path of bitachon. The Ribbono shel Olam has clearly demonstrated for us that we can trust in Him. He has performed great miracles for us so we will learn to trust in Him.
The non-Jews, however, don’t have the vessels for this; they remain “outside.” They may know that there’s such a thing as faith, and they may even come closer to Hashem, but they can never attain the exalted madreigos of deveikus in Hashem that a Yid can achieve—because they have no ממעל אלו-ה חלק, the inner spark of Godliness, that came from יציאת מצרים and התורה קבלת that we all experienced.
