A Thought on Bitachon
From the shiurim on Kav Hashgacha Pratis
Good lachasos – which is a lower level of trust – in Hashem, than livtoach – which is a stronger trust – in man, even if man has promised to do much for him.
The best thing then, is, on your own initiative, to place your trust in Hashem. This is better than trusting in anyone or anything else. Even if someone makes all sorts of promises to you, and a generous person promises to give you some of his money...in any case, it is still better to take shelter in Hashem, even if He did not promise you anything.
A man, with all his promises, is merely flesh and blood, with ups and downs in business and in his thoughts. And he is dependent on everything that is going on around him; sometimes he accepts the words of those who seek his donations and he gives them his money, and sometimes he does not. And regarding this it says, “It is better lachasos – to take shelter – in Hashem than to trust in man; it is better to take shelter in Hashem than to trust in magnanimous ones.” (Hade’ah V’hadibbur)
He Who Trusts in Hashem Will Not Lack for Any Good
Anyone who trusts in Hashem yisbarach is surrounded by the middas hachessed, which supports the world; as it says, “And he who trusts in Hashem, kindness will surround him” (Tehillim 32:10).
Hashem orchestrates circumstances to provide for everyone. He is the One Who provided for Eliyahu Hanavi through the ravens, and for one hundred nevi’im through Ovadia.... He provides and gives food to all the helpless beings, such as the embryo in its mother’s womb and the chick in the egg, where there is no open place for the food to pass. Likewise, He provides for the bird in the air, the fish in the sea, for the ant, and for the smallest and weakest of insects. And He is the One Who withholds prey from the lion, the strongest of animals. And this is why it says (Tehillim 34:11), “Lion cubs might suffer hunger, but those who seek Hashem will not lack any good.”
Torah and Bitachon Protect a Person
Similarly, we find that Hashem will shield one who observes the Torah and maintains bitachon, and one who takes shelter in Him from all troubles; as it says (Tehillim 18:31), “The Word of Hashem is pure, He is a shield to all those who take shelter in Him.” Dovid Hamelech juxtaposed these two matters to let us know that by our keeping Hashem’s Word and trusting in Him, Hashem will protect us from all troubles. (Rabbenu Yonah, Mishlei 3:26)
It Is Good to Take Shelter in Hashem
There are two kinds of trust: One is knowing that someone promises to give him much money and wealth...and that is called bitachon; the second is realizing that nothing is guaranteed, but placing one’s hopes in Hashem, and this is called chisayon – taking shelter in Hashem. As it says (Devarim 32:37), Hashem is the rock in which we take shelter – the rock covers a person from heavy rains when he sits under it, but the rock does not guarantee that it will be his shield. Therefore it says, “It is good lachasos – to take shelter – in Hashem.” This is the second kind, meaning that the person casts his burden on Hashem of his own accord, even though Hashem did not guarantee him anything, rather than placing his trust in mankind, even after man promises to do good to him. (Gr”a on Mishlei 14: 26)
Chisayon Is a Lower Level than Bitachon
Dovid Hamelech taught (Tehillim 118:8-9), “It is better lachasos – to take shelter in Hashem, than to trust in man; it is better to take shelter in Hashem than to trust in generous people.”
The Gr”a’s explanation on this passuk (in his comment to Mishlei 14:26) is well known. A person should, on his own initiative, cast his burden on Hashem even if Hashem did not promise or guarantee him anything. This is better than trusting in man even if man has promised or guaranteed to do good to him.
The Shomer Emunim (Shaar 4) explains that chisayon is a lower level than bitachon, and therefore it says that it is good lachasos – which is a lower level of trust – in Hashem, than livtoach – which is a stronger trust – in man, even if man has promised to do much for him.
