Many people think that bitachon (trust in Hashem) means; I'll pray to G-d then sit back and G-d will do the work for me.
That isn't bitachon...that is laziness. Bitachon means that one takes responsibility for one's life, and accepts Hashem's response as correct and healthy for them, whether or not on the face of it the response appears to be correct and healthy.
I know that often I have lacked faith in Hashem; things have gone "wrong" and try as we might things continued to go "wrong". I would become angry, did not want to pray, felt that life was horrific and we were abandoned by G-d.
And then I would let go...of the anger and the fear. Okay, this is the way Hashem wants it. Deep breath. Not getting paid for months at a time ended up with my being paid at just the moment that we needed to be paid. The fridge dying ended up at the perfect time for us to get a new fridge.
I trust Hashem. That is where I put my faith. I do not put my faith in the governments or in any political party or leader. I trust Hashem. That doesn't mean I lie back and wait for it. I'm in a partnership here.
I work. I put my nose to the grindstone. I heave and ho and I struggle.
But what I mean by bitachon is I give up the fear and the anger and the worry and the concern...and trust that what is happening is for my good no matter how bleak it appears at the moment.
Bitachon is not a work free life; it is not a life free of thought or consideration. It is a life free of fear.
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3 comments:
Well put! It's just very hard to have Bitachon when your health goes. That is the ultimate test ...
Great blog, Rachel Ann! Your summation of bitachon is exactly what I believe to also be emuna. Everything Hashem does is for the best, even the seemingly bad. Once we internalize that idea, we can rest easy (even while working hard, lol)
I found the post on bitachon fascinating on a couple of levels.
On one level, I deal with security, especially information security. B'ivrit, security is "bitachon". I sometimes deal with heavy matters so others won't be afraid.
On another level, there is the personal aspect of bitachon, of continuing to go forward trusting HaShem. One of my favourite quotes is that of the Bratslaver rabbi Nachman, "Kol HaOlam Gesher Tzar Me'od..." All the world is like a narrow bridge, the essential thing is not to become frightened."
Having once driven across the long narrow Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the middle of night during a severe storm, those words fit my memories very well. Even though it was difficult to see more than 20 feet ahead, it was also more dangerous to stop. So I had to focus of keep moving ahead. Can see 10 feet? Fine drive those 20 feet and can see the next 20 feet, and so on. A bit scary, but it also provided a personal insight into bitachon, that it is not a passive trust but an active one.
Kol tov.
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