The Chidushei HaRim zt'l notes that the sofei teivos, final letters, of this pasuk (Tehillim 112:8) spells Chanukah: ךסמו 'הב חבטו ולב ןנכו, "His heart is confident with bitachon, relying on Hashem."
The parashah begins, ימים שנתים מקץ ויהי חלם ופרעה, "And it came to pass at the end of two full years that Pharaoh was dreaming," The Or HaChaim says that Pharaoh had this dream every night for two years, only each morning, he forgot his dream. At the end of two years, Pharaoh had the dream again, but he didn’t forget it this time.
Rebbe Pinchas of Koritz (Mikeitz 71) asks, "Why was it necessary that he have this dream for two years?"
He explains with a story: The Baal Shem Tov traveled through a forest with his student, Rebbe Mendel, the Magid of Bar zt'l. On the third day of their travels, Rebbe Mendel was extremely thirsty. The Baal Shem Tov told him to trust in Hashem.
They came across a goy who asked them, "Did you see my horses? I am looking for them for three days." They replied that they didn't see the horses. Reb Mendel asked for water, and the goy gave it to him.
Reb Mendel asked the Baal Shem Tov, "I am certain Hashem sent this man to bring me water. But why was he looking for his horses for three days?"
The Baal Shem Tov answered, "Hashem sent him out three days ago so he can bring you water the moment you acquire bitachon."
Similarly, Pharaoh had this dream for two years so that the moment Yosef perfected his bitachon, Yosef would immediately be released from prison.
The Imrei Pinchas writes, "This teaches us the greatness of bitachon. Hashem prepares a person's needs before he has bitachon so that the moment he acquires bitachon, salvation will be available for him. This is what happened to Yosef. Initially, Yosef trusted in the sar hamashkim and was punished. He remained in jail until he had [perfect] bitachon. Hashem sent this dream to Pharaoh every night for two years, so Yosef's redemption would be ready the moment he trusted in Hashem yisbarach."
