When one knows that everything is in Hashem’s hands, he will know that he can have bitachon and Hashem will help him. This brings us to a true story, told by the Alter of Nevardok zt'l:
A yeshiva bachur had to go home to do the mitzvah of kibud av ve’em, but he didn’t have any money to pay for the trip. He decided he would do hishtadlus, and do whatever he can, and Hashem will help him. He walked three days to the closest train station. (That doesn’t cost money, only energy.) He arrived at the train station several hours before the train was leaving for his hometown. He sat on a bench, took out his Gemara and began to learn as though he was in yeshiva. He had done his hishtadlus, now all he had to do was to trust in Hashem and pray that he gets home.
Eventually, people started coming to the train station. A Yid approached him and said, “I'm so happy there will be another Yid on the train. Perhaps we can travel together. We can find a corner, so we don’t have to be among all the goyim, & we can learn Torah together.” The bachur replied, “I would like that very much, but I don’t have a ticket.” “So go buy one. What are you waiting for?” “The problem is I don’t have money to buy a ticket.” “So why are you here? You act very foolishly. You shouldn’t have walked for 3 long days for nothing.” The bachur replied, “I trust that my Father in heaven will help me get on the train. Hashem has His ways. I did my hishtadlus, and the rest Hashem will do.” The man laughed at him, and said insulting words. Then he bought a ticket and boarded the train.
The bachur continued learning Torah. He trusted and prayed that Hashem help him get home, to perform the mitzvah of kibud av ve’em. The conductor blew the first whistle. This meant the train will be leaving in 5 minutes. People on the platform began boarding the train, but this bachur remained sitting on the bench. He was calm, because he trusted Hashem will yet help him get onto the train. Then the conductor blew the 2nd whistle. Only 2 minutes left until departure. Suddenly, a Yid came to the station in a hurry, rushing to catch the train. He asked the bachur, “Why aren’t you boarding the train?” “I don’t have money to buy a ticket.” “I'll buy two tickets. One for you and one for me.” They boarded the train a moment before the doors closed. The bachur thanked his benefactor immensely, and he thanked Hashem for helping him get onto the train.
The bachur looked around for a place to sit on the packed train, & that’s when he saw the Yid whom he had spoken with earlier. The Yid was shocked to see the bachur on the train. The bachur said, “You see, it is good to trust in Hashem. As the Midrash (Shochar Tov, Tehillim 31) states, ‘Whoever trusts in My name, I will save him.’” The man replied, “How can you say you acted wisely? If the man wouldn’t have come at the last minute, you would be left alone in the train station, without a way to get home.” This story was told by the Alter of Novardok zt’l, & it is known that he was the bachur in this story.
— Torah Wellsprings
