WHY WAS AVRAHAM AVINU THE BIGGEST SUCCESS IN THE UNIVERSE?
I’m sure there are many obvious reasons, but I’d like to be me’orer (point out) the fact that he’s always building Mizbeach’s, as a big and tangible gesture of thankfulness for the mere good news about future goodness that Hashem gives him. We don’t find him worrying or davening for anything (except for his arch enemies and Sedom!), despite his serious issue of a lifetime of childlessness (and having a child meant everything to him). He even settles on having Yishmael being his successor, and said: Halevai Yishmael will serve You. (Rashi)
He also had horrific Redifos (persecution) and K'lalos and Bizyonos and being thrown into a pit or a burning furnace, etc. (Ramban). He never complains; all he does is thank Hashem, and do Chesed to humans.
When a person asks for something by davening, or works on getting something via Bitachon, he is saying that things are no good and they need to improve. When a person thanks Hashem, he is saying that everything is okay and he’s happy.
Although We May Be Thanking Plenty, We Are Still Basically Anchored in A Mode of Subtle Dissatisfaction
Hashem said: Vayar Elokim ki tov “Hashem saw that it is good” 6 times, and the thanker is in the same mode as Hashem. The true answer to so many of our problems is that although we may be thanking plenty, we are still basically anchored in a mode of subtle dissatisfaction.
It might be worth our while to go extreme (for a period of time) in which we don’t ask for anything at all; just thank until we become like Dovid HaMelech, who despite his many Tzaros, said: Hashem is my Shepard, I will never be lacking. When you really change, then your entire Mazal also changes, and get ready for big Nissim. The days of Chanukah are coming up, and I would say that it’s a big Inyan to start stepping-up your Hoda'ah mode, so that by Chanukah you’ll be loaded with Hallel and Hoda'ah & be Zoche to fantastic Nissim.
By Being a Greater Thanker, You Can Become a Greater Baal Bitachon
Why is Chanukah days of Hallel & Hoda'ah, if the greatness of the Chashmonaim was their Bitachon against all odds? We can suggest that the best way to become a Baal Bitachon is by being a greater thanker, and this was the Chofetz Chaim’s Eitza on how to achieve Bitachon.
