Faith
5 Paths to Bitachon: How Jewish Wisdom Teaches Trust in God in Every Situation
Explore five powerful approaches to building trust in God and how they can bring inner peace, divine support, and spiritual clarity to your daily life
(Photo: shutterstock)The Talmudic Sages present several approaches to understanding bitachon (trust in God), and all are considered "Divrei Elokim Chayim" — words of the Living God. While some sages emphasized one perspective as primary, others placed emphasis elsewhere. All approaches are valid, needed in different situations, and applicable to different people based on their spiritual level and life circumstances.
1. Bitachon as an Extension of Emunah – The Chazon Ish's Approach
According to the Chazon Ish, bitachon is a higher level of emunah (faith). It is not just intellectual belief that God created the world and supervises it, but bringing this awareness into one’s emotions and daily life. It means living with that faith and responding to life’s challenges through that lens. This emotional internalization brings inner peace, as one knows that all events in life ultimately serve their good.
2. “Trust in God and Do Good” – Bitachon through Commitment to Goodness
Based on the verse "Trust in God and do good" (Psalms 37:3), this approach teaches that true bitachon is a desire to fulfill God’s will, improve in divine service, avoid jealousy of the wicked, and cling to what is good and upright. Rabbi Bachya in the book Kad HaKemach writes that King David first emphasizes trust and then good deeds, because authentic trust in God leads one to perform His commandments, with the belief that God will provide what is necessary to achieve them.
3. Bitachon as Hope for Kindness – Chovot HaLevavot's View
Rabbeinu Bachya ibn Pakuda (author of Chovot HaLevavot) defines bitachon as the belief that God alone governs the world and is the only true power. In addition to recognizing His authority, one should actively hope and yearn for God's kindness, even without a guaranteed promise, because He is our compassionate Father and King. We are encouraged to hope for the fulfillment of our heart's desires based on His abundant mercy.
4. Bitachon as Confidence in Divine Fulfillment – The Novardok Approach
This view regards bitachon not as an obligation but as a spiritual option: if one trusts fully and without doubt that God will fulfill their heart’s desires, then He indeed will. Rabbi Yosef Albo in Sefer HaIkkarim writes: “One must trust God with such perfect confidence that they have no doubt He will grant their request, because God is fully capable and nothing can stop Him.”
He continues that even if someone feels unworthy, if they hope correctly and completely, God's kindness will not be withheld. As the verse says, “God desires those who fear Him, those who hope for His kindness” (Psalms 147).
Similarly, in Chiddushei Maran HaGriz Halevi, Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik explains the verse “Delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalms 37:4) as a testimony that perfect bitachon can bring about fulfillment of any request, based on the level of trust.
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev adds (Kedushat Levi): “If a person truly trusts that God will provide all their needs, then Heaven will indeed fulfill all their requests. But if they constantly worry about livelihood, this concern is mirrored above, and their provision is limited accordingly.”
5. Bitachon as Surrender – The Path of Total Submission
This final approach, sometimes referred to as the "virtue of submission" involves complete surrender of one’s will. The person places all their desires aside and relies entirely on God’s plan, accepting whatever happens as the absolute best. The believer throws themselves into God's hands, trusting that He will lead them in the most perfect way, whatever that may be.
Practical Applications of Bitachon in Daily Life:
Devoting time and resources to spiritual pursuits; recognizing that this world is temporary and the soul’s growth is eternal.
Not relying on human benefactors as the source of success — they are merely instruments of God's will, not independent forces.
Balanced effort (hishtadlut): One should neither overexert themselves in pursuing goals nor neglect reasonable effort. Effort is a divine obligation but does not determine results — God alone decides outcomes.
Composure during effort: Actions should stem from calm trust, not panic or desperation. Human effort fulfills a decree, but results are determined solely by God.
Avoiding forbidden actions, recognizing that violating Torah law never brings true success or divine blessing.
Acknowledging all success is from God, not from “my strength and the power of my hand.”
Recognizing suffering as from God, given with justice and love for our ultimate growth and perfection.
Believing all life events are divinely orchestrated, guided by God’s love and concern for our spiritual fulfillment.
