Even the Greatest Ba’al Bitachon May Need a Periodic Reminder
“Standing Outside” Is No Excuse
There’s a story about one of the ba’alei mussar who encountered a secular Yid, R”l. In the midst of their conversation, the Yid drank something without making a berachah beforehand. Perturbed, the ba’al mussar rebuked the man: “One may not eat or drink without a berachah!” To which the man responded: “I am secular... I don’t observe Torah and mitzvos.” Said the ba’al mussar to him: “What do you think? You will come up to the Olam Ha’Emes and they will accept your excuse that you were secular?! You will have to give a detailed reckoning for every misdeed! You will need to pay for every d’Rabbanan transgression you committed over your lifetime.”
The Principle of Reward and Punishment Applies to Everyone
When we analyze this story, we learn a very deep point: The Ribono shel Olam has instituted a method of reward and punishment in the world—and leaving the path of Torah and mitzvos is no exemption whatsoever. No one can say, “You must understand... I was outside this entire picture. I deserve a different measure, because I wasn’t part of the program.” It doesn’t work this way.
The principle of reward and punishment—in This World and in the Next World—applies to everyone equally. It’s part of the order of creation, and no one can wiggle free of it. If we adhere to Torah, if we’re davuk to the good, then we will receive all the berachos. If we do not follow the Torah, then we have abandoned the path of good, and chas v’shalom, we will incur suffering—because this is how the creation works, with no exceptions.
Shefa Is Dependent on Emunah and Bitachon
The same principle applies to emunah and bitachon; it is a fact in the creation of the world. One who remembers the Ribbono shel Olam has tethered himself to the One Who runs the world. That person has become connected to the Source of sustenance of the entire creation—and he will thus automatically reap a great shefa.
However, if a person forgets Hashem—whether intentionally or inadvertently, it makes no difference—he has factually forgotten about the Ribbono shel Olam and doesn’t think about Him... he relies upon his own might and abilities—he has now disconnected himself from the Source of life Who animates the entire world, and he will automatically sense it. The shefa will come to him in a restricted way, because he has untethered himself from the Source.
A Systematic Order in Creation
There may be exceptions to this rule, such as in the case of a complete rasha about whom we know that the Ribbono shel Olam often repays him in This World for the good that he has done. This is also part of the order of creation: When a person disconnects himself completely from Hashem, he will be given a flow of shefa from Above so that he will not receive any reward in the Next World. But in general, the world works in a way that one who’s connected to the Source will receive his shefa in a revealed and generous manner.
This lies in the words of the Zohar HaKadosh (Parashas Vayikra), who says that the Ribbono shel Olam notifies a person of his erroneous ways by sending him a message. This is part of the ...בריאה even before the creation of the world... the Ribbono shel Olam designed the world that it will work this way.
The Order of Emunah and Bitachon Is Likewise Equal for All
Just as we understand that the measure of ועונש שכר is equally applied to everyone—whether or not they’re committed to Torah—so too, we must understand that the measure of emunah and bitachon likewise applies to everyone equally: If they acknowledge and trust in the Source of shefa, they will have greater access to it.
This means that not only a simple person will see immediately that he’s lacking siyata diShmaya—even a great tzaddik and eved Hashem will sometimes need a message from Above in the form of an interruption to the shefa. If, according to his lofty level, he has lapsed in his connection to Hashem and his reliance on Him, he will immediately notice it in his flow of shefa. As long as a person is in this world, it is impossible that he should have perfect bitachon at all times. Everyone has nisyonos in emunah, and they will be reminded about it.
Even the Greatest Tzaddikim May Need Reminders
Rav Dovid Leikes was a prime student of the Ba’al Shem Tov. Once, he traveled to make wine for his Rebbe, and he invested much toil and effort into producing the wine on the highest standards and with the greatest stringencies—all to bring satisfaction to his beloved master and teacher.
However, just as he was about to enter Medzibuz, the hometown of the Ba’al Shem Tov, a policeman detained him. Seeking to ascertain whether there was contraband aboard the wagon, the officer stuck a cane into the barrel and took a taste of it—instantly rendering it yayin nesech, and all the toil was for naught!
When he finally met the Ba’al Shem Tov, Rav Dovid expressed his great disappointment. “Why did I deserve such an outcome?” he asked his Rebbe, to which the Ba’al Shem Tov answered, “Yes, you did tremendous hishtadlus and you invested great toil—but you lacked sufficient thought about needing siyata diShmaya. You forgot to daven and to rely on the Ribbono shel Olam for your success.”
We tell this story so we will know that even tzaddikim—whose lowest levels we can never approach even at our highest level of bitachon—sometimes lacked the proper level of bitachon, according to their lofty levels, and they needed to be reminded of it. This is how it always works, at every level of bitachon.
Even the Ba’al Bitachon Can Use Chizuk in Bitachon
When we understand that the conduct of sending us reminders is relevant to us all—at every level—we understand that it applies even to a Yid who works hard on his bitachon. This Yid learns Chovos HaLevavos every day, and he exclaims, “Since I began learning sha’ar haBitachon, I’m not the same person. It has been ten years, and I now go through life’s ordeals with such calm and serenity. I don’t even share it with anyone, but I feel such clarity. My learning about bitachon permeates my soul... and I see that Hashem continues to help me as a result.” Even this person who has attained great levels of bitachon still must sometimes be reminded when he falls back from his madreigah. He’s a human being of flesh and blood, after all, and the heart of a person has bends and creases—and thus, no one can claim to always be on a perfect level of bitachon.
The great Reb Shlom’ke of Zvill would say that if a person were to reach the pinnacle of bitachon, he would have nothing left to accomplish in This World. If you’re alive, it means you still have work to do in the area of bitachon.
When There’s a Lack of Shefa, There’s a Lack of Bitachon
When the ba’al bitachon feels a lack in an area of his life, he shouldn’t wonder, “How can it be that I experienced this—I thought I was so perfect in my bitachon?” Don’t begin to ask questions and pose contradictions... rather meditate, with humility and bittul. You will most likely see that you have somewhat forgotten about the Ribbono shel Olam, and you have begun to rely on your own might and ability. If so, it is no wonder that the Ribbono shel Olam sent you a reminder; it is an automatic reaction. It is part of the design of creation that when a person forgets, he is soon reminded.
And just as these reminders come to people who are altogether distant from bitachon, they will also be sent to those at higher levels of emunah and bitachon—because, according to their level, they have deviated. He may have thought that he reached the pinnacle, and this is why he needs to be reminded through a restriction in shefa to return to the path of emunah.
There’s Always Room for Growth
Just as a person who works on his anger can never say “I no longer become angry... I’m not even tempted to it..., so too, a person who works on bitachon is still human and still has a yetzer hara to contend with. The yetzer hara renews his battle against us every day. Every day brings fresh nisyonos and challenges in emunah. And for this reason, the Ribbono shel Olam sends us reminders to return to the path.
Because you think you’re at a higher level, you will need to be reminded not to fall. Because if the reminders don’t come, a person may become lax. From Above, they will assist a person in retaining the level he has reached, and they will push a person to grow ever more.
The Challenges Propel Us Up the Ladder of Bitachon
The Guest Becomes Comfortable
There’s yet another reason why periodic reminders are necessary—even for the ba’al bitachon. For the nature of a person is that when a person becomes comfortable in his madreigah of bitachon—even a lofty one—it automatically becomes weakened with time.
Let’s explain this with a mashal:
A Yid arrives in a new neighborhood and seeks to become part of the local community. The first time he comes to shul on Shabbos, he feels uncomfortable. He stands in the back, and he hopes that someone will show him a seat. In the end, he takes the courage to ask someone, and indeed, he’s shown to a seat whose owner isn’t present that Shabbos. The next week, this seat is occupied, and he looks for another seat. Slowly, he becomes familiar, and he finds a permanent place.
But this isn’t enough for him. He wants to be part of things in every sense. He strikes up casual conversations with some individuals, and he begins spending more time with them, and eventually makes a few friends in shul. Soon, he moves his seat up from the back to the center of the shul, and during the kiddush, he has a regular group.
Now, there are some people who would be satisfied with this. They’re happy that they have a place and friends. Everything is fine. They don’t need any extra honors or to serve as the chazzan...and they don’t even require an aliyah. They don’t need to serve on the board, and they don’t need to be decision makers.
But then there are those who do need more. They want to advance. They even want to have an opinion and to make decisions on behalf of the community.
Entering the “Community” of Bitachon
The world of bitachon is the same way. A Yid stands “outside” the Ribbono shel Olam’s community of bitachon. He is uninitiated and unfamiliar. Says someone to him, “Why are you standing outside? It’s raining, and you’re getting soaked! The sun is baking... you’re hungry and thirsty. Don’t be foolish. Come inside... enter the world of bitachon. It’s a world of pleasure and pleasantness. יסובבנו חסד בה' הבוטח, one who trusts Hashem is surrounded by kindness.”
So, the Yid listens and comes in. He looks around... he learns some Chovos HaLevavos... he hears a shiur on the topic, and he even experiences a bitachon miracle of his own. But he remains “in the back.” Slowly but surely, he learns more and more, and he tries living with it, and he sees that it’s real and true. “Wow! This is an interesting world!” He moves up a table... and begins working on his bitachon....
In the beginning, he did so as a segulah to test Hashem... to see if bitachon will work for him, if he’ll earn more money. But later, he realizes that one must approach bitachon with much more authenticity and altruism—for its own sake. And so, he moves up a table... he advances in his bitachon. He’s becoming comfortable in the community. He understands the language. He allows himself to be led and guided from Above... the way a Yid should be. He has learned not to become upset when things don’t go his way, because he knows that the Ribbono shel Olam will help him.
The Risk of Rote
But here lies a danger. When this person becomes comfortable in his bitachon, he may end up fooling himself. He may think that he’s advanced, but he’s really at the table in the very back of the shul.
Even if he’s authentic and real... he doesn’t use his bitachon as a segulah—and he really works on himself to submit to Hashem’s plan... he has still become too comfortable in his position. He’s satisfied with himself, and now his bitachon has become a matter of rote. Thus, it doesn’t have the same potency and the same effect of connecting him to the Ribbono shel Olam.
Becoming Comfortable
This is just like a young bar mitzvah boy who puts on tefillin for the first time. He’s overcome with emotion and excitement, and he was taught that by strapping on tefillin, he tethers himself to the Ribbono shel Olam. But as time goes on, he stops contemplating this, and it becomes a matter of rote. Of course, he still puts on tefillin every day, but he no longer feels that it will shield him from the yetzer hara, and he doesn’t think so much about the words of the ...יחוד לשם he doesn’t connect his mind to Hashem during this great mitzvah.
The same applies to the ba’al bitachon. At first, he worked on his bitachon. He experienced a difficult situation, and he go through it with his bitachon—although it wasn’t easy. He had to change his entire mindset. He had to force into his mind the thought that everything from the Ribbono shel Olam is for the good. The first time that someone offended him and he was able to remain quiet—thinking that it’s all bashert for him—it cost him blood, sweat, and tears. That was true bitachon.
But as he became accustomed to this level of bitachon, he became comfortable, and it’s no longer so difficult for him. It has become second nature for him, and if it has become part of his nature, it becomes—in a sense—like practicality and life wisdom. It’s no longer a challenge for him, and thus it has less ability to bring him closer to the Ribbono shel Olam.
Naturally Calm
Imagine a person who is known to everyone to be naturally calm. People remember him as a child, and he was always calm and unflappable. You could yell at him, and he would remain cool and collected. He didn’t work for it; it’s simply his nature. Everyone understands that it’s wonderful to have such a nature, but that this person isn’t necessarily a great eved Hashem who is connected and davuk to Hashem.
The ba’al bitachon who has attained and mastered a high level of trust in Hashem is similar in a way. Yes, he wasn’t born naturally calm—he worked hard for it. And yes, he will certainly be rewarded for making this big change in his life. But at this point he’s just like that other person.... He no longer needs to bend himself and transform his heart and mind and submit it to the plan of the Ribbono shel Olam. When he remains calm in stressful situations, it may have an element of bitachon, but it’s no longer the same as when he needed to challenge himself for bitachon.
Emunah Must Bring You Closer to Hashem
It’s like a person who gives money to a pauper when he himself doesn’t have much. Later, once he has become wealthy, he continues to give the same amount of tzedakah. Everyone will understand that this doesn’t have the same level of meaning as the tzedakah that he gave previously, when it was so difficult for him—because he’s not sacrificing as much for the Ribbono shel Olam. It’s doesn’t take the same emotional toll that it did previously.
The point isn’t that the Ribbono shel Olam wants doing mitzvos to hurt. The point is that when it takes toil and effort for a mitzvah, a person remembers the Ribbono shel Olam. But when mitzvos stop reminding a person of the Ribbono shel Olam, that person must find a way to challenge himself so that he will be reminded of Hashem. The Ribbono shel Olam designed it this way, for the good of the person, so he will continue to grow in his connection to Hashem.
The mitzvah of emunah and bitachon is the same way; it was designed to bring a person closer to Hashem—and so a person must constantly grow in this mitzvah. And for this reason, the Ribbono shel Olam designed—for the good of the person—that a person should receive constant reminders, so he shouldn’t remain comfortable in the place where he is, but to ascend the ladder higher and higher.
Everyone Is Given Reminders
Thus, it is clear that Hashem wants us to constantly grow in our bitachon, and for this reason, a person is periodically presented with challenges. In fact, the Gemara (Erachin 16b) tells us that if forty days pass without suffering, one should be concerned about it.
Conversely, if a person sees that two or three times a week, his life doesn’t go as planned, he should be happy: “I am a normal person. I am part of the design of the world...” In Shamayim they know that if my life were perfect, I would become too comfortable and I would forget about Hashem. Therefore, I am being reminded to consistently grow in my bitachon, and thus come closer to the Ribbono shel Olam.”
