The Faith Test: Check Yourself - How Much Do You Trust in Hashem?

Many people see that they do not worry and fear and attribute this to their trust in Hashem, while in reality this is self-confidence. There are various ways in which a person can test himself if he truly trusts in Hashem, and we will bring some of them, and what benefit trust brings to the service of Hashem from the book "Chovot HaLevavot" Gate of Trust, and from what is found in other holy books.

Daily Life Facts for the Faith Test

Test A

It is brought in "Chovot HaLevavot" (Gate of Trust, Ch.1): "The one who trusts is at peace and free from worries that allow him to dedicate himself to the service of Hashem." Up to here is his language. In this, a person should examine himself if he is at peace and calm without reasons as well as with them, and he should examine his fear and worry when, heaven forbid, a doctor gives up on his health or, heaven forbid, when his source of income is closed, because trust obligates him to be in the same state of calmness with the reasons and without them.

Test B

"That he does not rely on other people, and he does not expect their help and does not try to find favor in their eyes, and he does not flatter them and does not agree with them on matters contrary to the service of Hashem and does not fear them and does not hesitate to rebuke them."

Test C

If he is content with his money or aspires to increase his wealth and is not happy with his portion. The true believer knows that a little effort is enough for the blessing by Hashem's help. In contrast, the one who strives with all his might shows that his faith depends on the reasons, and he fears that without them his livelihood may decrease. Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian z"l used to say that contentment and trust are interconnected. So too is written in the Shlah in the Gate of the Letters, Letter S, Contentment.

Test D

Anger. When something happens against his will, he should examine if he gets angry. If his trust in Hashem is strong, he believes that even in the absence of a reason, he will not lack anything he needs, and thus he will not become angry. Therefore our sages said: "Anyone who gets angry is as if he worships idols," because idol worship is a denial of the faith that everything is from Hashem. This is exactly the way of the angry person - since he believes in chance, he gets angry in its absence, as it is brought in Midrash Rabba (90, 10) that Hashem reproached Jacob our ancestor a"h when he said to his sons "Why did you harm me to tell the man you have another brother?" (Genesis 43:6) as if he attributed his trouble to his sons' actions which caused Benjamin's descent to Egypt, while he should have believed that Hashem decreed it.

Test E

Envy and grudge. See in himself if he is pained hearing good news like wealth and the like for his friend, or if he shares in his joy, and similarly when, heaven forbid, he hears bad news about his friend or competitor - if he is happy or sad, by this his true trust is discerned. The believer knows that no one can touch what is prepared for his fellow even as much as a hair's breadth, and what comes to him no one else can take away, and what does not come to him no effort in the world will help him obtain it. Therefore he should rejoice in all of Hashem's deeds and His conduct in His world. More so, envy is almost like heresy, showing that his mind is not satisfied with Hashem's conduct and according to him, the conduct should be different.

Test F

Pride. On this too our sages said: "Anyone who is proud is as if he denies the main principle and worships idols," and for the same reason as above, because his actions are like those of the idol worshiper - who believes in himself and his power, "My strength and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth," and therefore he is proud. If he placed his trust in Hashem, he would know and understand that a person should not attribute any action and success to his own power or abilities, and the pride and greatness belong to the living God.

Test G

Neglect of Torah and prayer. The one who trusts in Hashem will not neglect his set Torah study and prayer time for business, because he believes that no absence of trade can cause him to lose his portion decreed from heaven, especially when he refrains from trade for Torah and prayer, surely he will be sent elsewhere twice as much.

Test H

Shabbat expenses, expenses for his children's Torah study, charity, etc. - the one who trusts in Hashem will not refrain from these expenses in his faith that everything is predetermined from Rosh Hashanah to Rosh Hashanah except for these expenses.

Test I: Another sign of the trusting is that he gives thanks for every abundance and good that reaches him, and when he does not give thanks, he shows that he attributes the abundance to his own strength, as it is brought in "Kav HaYashar." And reason compels this, for when one receives a gift of pennies or any good and kindness from his friend, immediately he gives thanks and blessings, but when profit comes from business and similar, even a great profit, he does not give thanks to Hashem, showing that he attributes it to his own strength.

Test J

The true believer abhors and distances himself from fortune tellers, magicians, and future-tellers of all kinds, even keeps far from palm readers and face readers, the many imposters in our days. Besides the severe prohibition of going to such people, it even denies perfect faith, as it is said (Deuteronomy 18:13): "You shall be wholehearted with Hashem your God," and we were warned against investigating the future. The true believer in all his needs turns with prayer and supplication directly to the source, as it is said (Psalms 145:18): "Hashem is near to all who call upon Him," and he is not perturbed or afraid of any witchcraft or connections, knowing that even they are subject to the decree of the Most High God over who and to what extent they can rule a person, and also know that by the power of belief "there is none other than Him," one can shatter all the connections and witchcraft so they cannot rule over him, and even if they already rule over him, they will depart from him and be as if they never existed. (This matter is elaborated in "Nefesh HaChaim" Gate 3 Ch. 12).

Test K

The believer in sustenance that it is from Hashem will not refrain from sending his children to Torah schools and holy yeshivas precisely, the believer will not worry at all about their future livelihood, especially when it is at the expense of the danger of endangering their souls- heaven forbid sending them to impure education, and similarly the believer will not refrain from giving his daughter to a groom who is a Torah scholar and God-fearing, engaged in Torah day and night, and will not worry about his daughter's future, because he believes in what was said: I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread.

The article is taken from the book "Living in Faith." To purchase the book by Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Lugasi click here.