What is the Measure of Trust? Part II

The second interpretation provided by Rabbeinu Bachya in the Gate of Trust states that the heart should be confident in the one it trusts to fulfill what was promised, and the Creator will think well of him, even for things not explicitly promised in the holy Torah. Imagine you promised your child a certain gift for their birthday, and during a conversation with their sibling, you overhear them say, "I don't think Mom or Dad will give me the gift they promised." "They always promise and don't deliver." At that moment, your desire to give the gift would surely dwindle; my child does not trust me to keep my promise.

Rabbeinu Bachya teaches us a great principle: if you do not believe in the Creator's promise that those who trust in Hashem will be surrounded by kindness, you can never achieve the level of complete trust. This is one of the fundamentals of the holy Torah. We must believe that all prophecies and promises written in the Torah, Prophets, Writings, and the sayings of our sages, are absolutely true, and not a word of theirs will return empty. And every Jew with understanding knows that the Creator never errs; if he promised and is able to fulfill, he certainly will. And if questions arise in our hearts, it is only because of our lack of understanding of His merciful conduct. The more we believe in complete faith in the Creator's promise that those who trust Him will be surrounded by kindness throughout their lives, the closer we come to the measure of trust in the Creator. As the Rambam ruled in the Laws of Rebellious Ones (Chapter 3, 1), one who does not acknowledge the Oral Torah is considered among the heretics, for all the words of our sages were said with divine inspiration.

Another point explained in the words of Rabbeinu Bachya is that the Creator will fulfill His words as acts of grace and kindness, and these words are a response to those who claim "maybe I don't deserve it." After all, we've done bad deeds, why would Hashem grant our wishes? King David already answered this question with his divine inspiration: "And I trusted in your kindness, my heart rejoices in your salvation". " Even King David, may peace be upon him, a great righteous person with good deeds, trusted in the Creator not because of his deeds, but because of the great kindness of the Creator. Certainly, we, ordinary people, need to know that our lives and the gifts we received during our lifetime, like health, livelihood, family, and friends, are all great acts of kindness given by Hashem, and surely not because of our deeds. When we trust that the Creator will continue to do good with us, we trust that it will be done as an act of kindness.

Additionally, I will share a practice I've engaged in many times. Compassion from the Creator has allowed me to see great salvations. Simply reciting the verses of trust strengthens a person in this wonderful attribute. By reciting the verse repeatedly, the words enter the heart of the person, until they believe in what they say. As an example, I bring the verse "And I trusted in your kindness, my heart rejoices in your salvation." This verse combines the kindness of Hashem with the measure of trust, and when both are combined, it's easier to be confident that Hashem will fulfill our heartfelt wishes for good.

It is told about Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, who explained the measure of trust: that a person is certain that Hashem will fulfill his heart's desire, if indeed there is no doubt it is for his good, such as food for himself and his household. If only he is certain that the Creator will send him his sustenance, then Hashem will be obligated to send him his food.

During one of the lectures, a Jew stood up and asked the honorable rabbi, even if I don't go to work painting houses, will Hashem send me ten thousand rubles if I am certain He will? Certainly, the rabbi replied, isn't that an explicit verse: "Commit your way to Hashem, trust also in Him, and He will do it." The man returned home and informed his wife: I'm staying home, no need to work anymore; the rabbi promised me that if I trust in Hashem, He will be obligated to send us our livelihood.

Days went by, and the ten thousand rubles still did not arrive. His wife approached him, scolding him to stop with his "nonsense." Go and bring food for your children. In his distress, he approached the rabbi and asked: I've been certain for a month now that Hashem will send me ten thousand rubles, and I still haven't received it. The rabbi suggested buying from him the ten thousand rubles he should receive, in exchange for five thousand rubles in cash. The painter's eyes lit up, and he replied, Certainly, honorable rabbi. Rabbi Yisrael then told him, Return to your work; if you gave up so quickly on half your money, you are not truly certain of receiving it from Hashem.

I gave a similar reply to another Jew who told me he had been certain for a long time that Hashem would send him his spouse, so why haven't I found the one my soul loves yet? Have you already bought a suit for the wedding, I asked him, and what about shoes, I further inquired? I haven't thought about it, he replied. Have you ever seen someone who knows they are about to get married and doesn't prepare a suit for it? Apparently, you are not truly certain; continue to strengthen your trust, and your wife will come to you, I concluded.

The book 'Yigel Libi B'Yishuatecha' can be obtained at select bookstores and at Hidabroot Shops and Hidabroot Shops