One should trust in Hashem the same way a child trusts his father. A child relies on his father for everything, and knows that he will take care of him, and that is how one should feel about Hashem.
Sefer Igeres al Habitachon describes this concept with a moshol of a rich man who owned a factory with many employees. In order to ensure a smooth operation, he established firm rules that every worker was obligated to abide by. He established penalties and fines for any worker who broke a rule. For the most severe infractions, the worker would be fired on the spot. He assigned a system of judges to determine what punishment each breach of the rules should incur, but he had to approve and confirm all of their decisions.
When the factory owner’s son came of age, he gave him a job in his business, hoping that one day he would succeed him as owner. He first placed him on the lowest-level job, with intentions for him to learn the entire business as he rose through the ranks.
One day, the son broke one of the rules and, as a result caused the factory a large monetary loss. He was brought before the judges, who found him guilty and ruled that he must be fired. He appealed the decision to the higher judge, who confirmed the ruling. Finally, he appealed to the highest judge, who, of course, was his father. This judge also found no way to absolve him and was about to read his guilty verdict when the son interrupted and yelled, “Father! Besides for being the owner of the factory and the highest judge, you are also my father. Please have mercy on your son and let me stay at my job. You are the one who made the rules, so you can change them! And since you are the highest judge, no one can contradict you. Please let me continue to work here and rise up through the levels until I one day run the entire operation.”
His father’s mercy was around, and he agreed to do this.
Hashem is the One who made all the rules of the Torah, and He personally oversees and enforces them. Of course, he doesn’t want anyone to transgress a mitzvah of the Torah, but since He can do whatever He wants, He can have mercy upon us even if we deserve punishment. If we have bitachon and place our trust in Hashem, and we rely on our Father in Heaven to show us mercy and compassion, even if we are unworthy, He will show kindness to us and “change the rules” for our benefit.
