A Baal Bitachon Is Someone Who Opens a Sefer On Bitachon
STORY
Last night, I had a car accident. My car was parked, and somebody rammed into the side and sliced my tire, etc., there was a lot of damage. A lot of people were watching me, and they come over to me. "We are going to see the famous Baal Bitachon in action! Here goes! Rabbi Mandel, see, he's standing so cool, and he's not getting worried! Now we see the big Baal Bitachon in action!"
I'll tell you the truth. I didn't have the Koach to start worrying! I didn't sleep enough to start with that. I wasn't ready to start worrying; that was the real truth! I stood there, and I told them "You guys, you want to see a Baal Bitachon? Do you know what a Baal Bitachon is? A Baal Bitachon is someone who opens a Sefer on Bitachon. He may be a basket case of worry. But he's trying!"
That's the REAL Baal Bitachon! What does the Brisker Rov say? יֹום אִירָא אֲנִי אֵלֶיךָ אֶבְטָח (תהלים נו ד). If you are scared, THEN you can be a Baal Bitachon. It doesn't mean that you are all-the-way there. But if you are suffering from the opposite of Bitachon, THAT'S the real thing.
R' Wainkrantz Zatzal once told me: "We're in the Eibishter's hands, and there's nothing to worry about"