Trust in Hashem, Part 2 - Navigating Faith and Effort in Daily Life

One of the central dilemmas that troubles those exploring the concept of bitachon (trust in G-d) is the seeming contradiction between the obligation to make human effort (hishtadlut) and the principle of absolute trust.

True bitachon creates a deep inner calm that brings joy and a sense of optimism. At the same time, making an effort is a requirement that we are unable to avoid.

The Evil Inclination’s Strategy

Like a predator with its claws outstretched, the evil inclination (yetzer hara) seizes upon the idea of hishtadlut as a way to weaken our natural, God-given capacity for deep trust.

A person may begin their efforts with the right intention, but the evil inclination, cunning and persistent, gradually implants a subtle illusion that salvation will come not from G-d, but from one's own actions and efforts. This crafty deception drains the soul with endless inner battles.

To understand why this tactic often succeeds, we need to recall a foundational concept from Chassidic thought: though we perceive ourselves as a single person with many thoughts, desires, and plans, the soul is composed of four distinct layers or levels, known in Kabbalah as Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah. We all experience these levels in our daily lives:

1. Asiyah (Action) – when we are busy with the practical details of daily life.

2. Yetzirah (Emotion) – when our feelings are stirred, such as when hearing a moving melody.

3. Beriah (Intellect) – when our mind is clear and focused, and we can think rationally and make good decisions.

4. Atzilut (Divine Connection) – moments of spiritual awakening, like during heartfelt prayer or on holy days, when we feel deeply connected to our soul and to G-d.

Each of these levels represents a different version of ourselves, and our behavior and perceptions can vary dramatically depending on which part of the soul is in control at a given time.

A person immersed in the practical demands of weekday life (Asiyah) may face moral struggles, tempted by dishonesty, harmful speech, or other behaviors that do not reflect their true spiritual level. The same person, when moved emotionally (Yetzirah), may feel deep shame even at the thought of such behavior. When they reach a higher intellectual clarity (Beriah)- such as during sincere prayer or study- their moral awareness and spiritual perspective are elevated even further.

The pinnacle takes place in moments of spiritual transcendence (Atzilut)- such as on Yom Kippur- when even those who feel spiritually distant are capable of extraordinary inner elevation.

Why Effort is Still Required

The evil inclination has the strongest influence when we are dealing with our daily responsibilities. Hishtadlut (effort) is required, not because G-d needs us to do anything for Him, but so that we bring our trust into the physical world. By doing so, we crown G-d not only over our hearts but over our actions as well.

When a person succeeds in drawing trust into all aspects of their soul, they unify their inner world. No longer is there conflict between their emotional and intellectual ideals and their external actions.

This idea is embedded in the verse (Psalms 37:3): “Trust in the Lord and do good.” Doing good is achieved when we bring bitachon into the world of action. This trust is the channel through which our higher soul flows into everyday life, even in areas where the yetzer hara lurks, such as in business, finances, or worldly pursuits.

Real Trust Means Trusting in G-d Alone

King David said (Jeremiah 17:7): “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and the Lord is his trust.” The Baal Shem Tov explains that true bitachon means relying on G-d not only to bring salvation through natural means, but trusting that even the means themselves (the “vehicle” of salvation) are fully in G-d’s hands.

A person with true bitachon knows that their actions have no independent power, and it is G-d alone who brings salvation. For this person, making a living doesn’t interrupt their connection to G-d, but strengthens it, so that their work becomes a school of faith.

A Story of Trust in Business

A well-known Chabad story illustrates this beautifully. Rabbi Binyamin of Kletzk, a devoted student of the Alter Rebbe (the Baal HaTanya), was deeply connected to G-d, even while working in business.

Once while calculating his finances, he wrote down his income and expenses. When it came time to total the amounts, he drifted into deep contemplation and spiritual attachment to G-d. Hours passed. When he returned to his calculation, he looked at the page, and on the line for the total, he had written: “Ultimately, there is nothing but Him.”

This story, treasured among Chabad chassidim, illustrates how a person can bring Divine awareness into even the most mundane areas of life.

What Is Success, Really?

Those who observe life with spiritual insight discover that success often comes from unexpected places. Conversely, the efforts we most believed in, often fail to produce results.

The more a person strengthens their trust in G-d, the more He helps them experience this truth firsthand. Success is not the result of effort alone, but from G-d's infinite kindness. For those who live with trust, even their failures become a Divine gift, designed to detach them from ego and deepen their connection to G-d.

True bitachon brings a peace unlike anything else in this world. Like the serenity of a baby resting in their mother’s arms, the child is not anxious, but can rest fully confident in the love that sustains them.

As David HaMelech said (Psalms 131:2): “Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; my soul is like a weaned child.” David, who faced constant battles, still reached a place of inner peace and spiritual calm, just like a baby soothed in their mother’s embrace.

May we all merit to reach such a place of trust, and may every experience bring us closer to G-d with a full and willing heart.

Rabbi Yehuda Wingarten is the chairperson of the Institute of Hasidic Foundations and the "Foundations of Education" organization.