Shevet Sofer (quoted in Shaarei Simchah) teaches that a person should trust in Hashem with all his heart, until he feels certain that he will be helped. When one has this bitachon, he will always be calm and worry-free. He will feel in his heart as though his salvation has already come.
An important point to remember: Bitachon isn't only for people going through very difficult times. It is for all people, no matter what they are dealing with in life. For the major issues, and for the relatively minor ones, one must have bitachon and trust that Hashem will certainly help him.
Reb Mordechai Benet zt'l (Drashos 2) also tells us that bitachon means that we should feel certain that Hashem will help us. He learns this from the pasuk (Tehillim 13:6) ...בָטַחְת ִּי ָבְּחַס ְדְּך וַאֲנִי, "I trusted in Your kindness... עָלָי גָמַל כִּי 'לַה אָשִׁירָה ָ, "I will sing to Hashem because He has bestowed it upon me." ָיעָל גָמַל כִּי, is in past tense. In Dovid HaMelech's eyes, the salvation had already come. This is how confident he was in Hashem's salvation.
The Shevet Mussar writes that the word בטחון comes from בטח, which means to be certain. The ideal level of one’s bitachon is to feel certain that Hashem will save him.
It states (Tehillim 22:5) וַתְּפ ַלְּט ֵמוֹ בָּט ְ חוּ א ֲבֹת ֵינוּ בָּט ְ חוּ ָבְּך, "Our ancestors trusted in You; they trusted and You rescued them." The word בָּט ְ חוּ, "trusted" is written twice in this pasuk. Why? It could have stated, וַתְּפ ַלְּט ֵמוֹ א ֲבֹת ֵינוּ בָּט ְ חוּ ָבְּך, "Our ancestors trusted in You and You rescued them." Why does the pasuk write בָּט ְ חוּ again?
Shevet Mussar replies that the second וַתְּפ ַלְּט ֵמוֹ בָּט ְ חוּ doesn't imply that Hashem saved them. It describes the level of bitachon of our ancestors. The pasuk begins, א ֲבֹת ֵינוּ בָּט ְ חוּ ָבְּך, "Our ancestors trusted in You." There are many levels of bitachon. What type of bitachon did they have? The pasuk replies, וַתְּפ ַלְּט ֵמוֹ בָּט ְ חוּ, their bitachon was so strong, they felt like they were already saved.
The topic of bitachon is discussed in this week's parashah when it says (34:25) עַל וַיָּבֹאוּ בֶּטַח הָע ִיר, "They came upon the city with confidence, with bitachon." This refers to Shimon and Levi, who came to wage war against Shechem. Shevet Mussar explains that they came with bitachon, without any fear. As it states בֶּטַח הָע ִיר עַל וַיָּבֹאוּ. Therefore, Hashem performed miracles for them, and they were able to kill all the people who fought with them.
In this week's parashah, we find that Yaakov was afraid and worried, as it states (32:8), לוֹ וַיֵּצֶר מ ְאֹד יַע ֲקֹב וַיִּירָא, “Yaakov became very afraid and distressed.” Daas Zekainim m'Baalei HaTosfos says we should translate the pasuk as follows: מאד יעקב וירא, Yaakov was very afraid, ויצר לו, and he was upset with himself for being afraid. Hashem promised that He would protect Yaakov, as it states (28:15) עמך אנכי והנה תלך אשר בכל ושמרתיך, "Behold I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go," and now Yaakov was afraid of Eisav. Yaakov asked himself, "Why am I afraid? What happened to my strong emunah and bitachon that I used to have?"
Rashi (32:11) writes, משהבטחתני שמא ,ירא אני לכך עשו ביד להמסר לי ויגרום ,בחטא נתלכלכתי, "The reason I am afraid is that from the time You promised me [to guard me] perhaps I have become soiled with aveiros, and this will cause me to be given over into Eisav's hands."
The Leshem (Vayeitzei, on pasuk 28:20) elaborates that Yaakov Avinu had a special reason to be afraid, this time. It was an exception to the rule (as he explains there). But generally, one should trust Hashem with certainty that He will help him.
The Leshem writes, "Although it is known that חטא יראת, fear of sin, is a very wonderful level as it states (Mishlei 28:14) תָּמ ִיד מְפַחֵד אָדָם אַשְׁרֵי, 'Fortunate is the man who is always afraid' – it means to be fearful not to commit any more aveiros. It doesn't mean that one is afraid that maybe he won't receive good because of his aveiros. Rather, the way of tzaddikim is (Tehillim 112:7) נָכוֹן יִירָא לֹא רָעָה מִש ְּׁמוּעָה 'בה ַבָּטֻח לִבּוֹ, 'He will not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in Hashem.' He trusts in Hashem, and he has no fears at all."
Bitachon in Tefillah and Daily Life
Several times, in Shemonah Esrei, we say the word כי, and it means "because", and it is used as a reason Hashem should answer our tefillos. For example, we say אתה חזק גואל ל-א כי שלימה גאולה וגאלנו, "Redeem us with a complete redemption, because You, Hashem, are a strong redeemer." The word כי explains the reason Hashem should save us. It is because Hashem is a strong redeemer.
Also, in the brachah רפאנו, we say ...ונרפא 'ה רפאנו, "Heal us Hashem, and we will be healed..." The reason Hashem should save us is אתה ורחמן נאמן רופא מלך ל-א כי because You, Almighty King, are a faithful and merciful Healer." Once again, כי is the reason Hashem should heal us.
This brings us to understand an important lesson in bitachon. In the brachah הצדיקים על we say, ׁנֵבוֹש לֹא וּלְעוֹלָם בָּטָח ְ נוּ ָבְך כִּי, "May we never be abashed because we trust in You." In this brachah, we express that Hashem should help us and spare us from shame בָּטָח ְ נוּ ָבְך כִּי, because we trust in Him. The bitachon itself is a reason for Hashem to grant us salvation. In other words, we trust and rely on Hashem's kindness. And if we aren't of Hashem's kindness, the merit of the bitachon itself will help, and Hashem will certainly bestow His kindness upon us.
Fear and Emunah
Reb Chaim Kanievsky zt'l in his sefer Orchos Yosher (ודאגה פחד) writes, "Some people are always afraid. They are afraid of all kinds of disasters, such as disease, war, evil people, and so on. Throughout their lives, they are always worried: Maybe this will happen, or maybe that will occur? Some are afraid to travel due to their fears. Some are afraid to leave their homes, r'l. This isn't good. Chazal (Brachos 60a) say, 'There was a student who went after Reb Yishmael b'Reb Yosi in the market of Tzion. Reb Yishmael saw that the student was afraid. He told him, את חטאה, 'You are a sinner,' as it states (Yeshayah 33:14) חַטָּא ִים בְצִיּוֹן פָּח ֲדוּ, 'Sinners in Tzion were afraid.'
"The student asked, 'But behold it states (Mishlei 28:14) תָּמ ִיד מְפַחֵד אָדָם אַשְׁרֵי, "Fortunate is the man who is always afraid"!
"Reb Yishmael replied, כתיב תורה בדברי ההוא, that pasuk refers to Torah study. Rashi explains, 'The pasuk is saying, fortunate is the man who is always afraid that he might forget Torah. Due to his fear, he will constantly review his studies.' This fear is valid and beneficial. But we should cleanse our hearts from all other fears. Besides, fear ruins one's health and causes illnesses, as it states (Sanhedrin 100b), 'Don't bring worries into your heart because worries killed many mighty people.' In general, fear is a sign of a lack of emunah. If he would believe with emunah sheleimah that everything comes from Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and one can’t stub his finger if it weren’t decreed so in heaven, why would he be afraid? If the decree was made, chas v'shalom, there is nothing he can do to avoid it. All clever ideas and strategies won't prevent Hashem's plan from coming to fruition. And if it wasn't decreed in heaven, there is certainly nothing to fear. We are always in Hashem's hands, during war and during peacetime, and Hashem has many ways to perform His will. One shouldn't be afraid of anything but Hakadosh Baruch Hu, as well as having fear of committing an aveirah, chas v'shalom, or not properly performing a mitzvah. Other than these matters, there is nothing to fear. Although Chazal (Bava Kama 60b) tell us to make hishtadlus and to be cautious, as it states, 'If there is a plague in the city, stay at home. If there is a famine in the city, travel elsewhere.' This is because we are obligated to make hishtadlus. But there is no reason to be afraid and worried. Chazal (Taanis 22a) praise the people who are always happy and bring happiness to others. Chazal say that they are הבא עולם בני, members of Olam Haba."
