Lessons in Bitachon from Yosef
One of my favorite pastimes is planning a dream vacation. I enjoy choosing a spot on the map and researching the attractions that I’d like to visit, the scenic drives and hikes I would take.
Over the years, I’ve come to realize that I enjoy planning the vacation a lot more than actually going on it! To go on vacation I need to pack my bags (and inevitably leaving something important behind) and shlep tired, cranky children along. I always feel stressed trying to stick to the schedule I created (because how else will we get to all those amazing attractions on our itinerary?!)
The reality of the vacation never measured up to my expectations. Now that I figured this out, I’m able to save a lot of time and money. I have my fun planning elaborate virtual vacations and I take my kids on simpler trips closer to home.
Life As a Dream Vacation
It made me think about how life works the same way. We put a lot of energy into creating a detailed map of how things should go, and then get upset and frustrated when life doesn’t go exactly according to plan. Life becomes a lot more enjoyable when we step back, relax, and allow Hashem to guide our journey.
And this leads to the central question of bitachon: How much effort am I actually supposed to put in? How far do I go with making my own plans versus letting Hashem take the steering wheel? And what happens when I do put in the effort and don’t seem to be getting results?
To explore these questions, let’s examine the classic story of Yosef’s interaction with the butler in prison.
After Yosef interpreted the sar hamashkim’s dream and told him he’d be restored to his position, he added a simple request: remember me and mention me to Pharaoh. The Torah later says that the sar hamashkim “did not remember Yosef—and he forgot him.” Rashi explains that because Yosef asked twice, he remained in prison for two extra years.
But what was wrong with Yosef doing a bit of hishtadlus? He had already spent ten years in prison. This seemed like a heaven-sent opportunity—meeting someone with a direct line to Pharaoh himself. Even Yaakov made preparations for his meeting with Esav. What was wrong with Yosef taking advantage of a connection that came his way?
There is a possuk in Tehillim (40:5), “Fortunate is the man who trusts in Hashem and does not turn to the proud ones.” Chazal say that this possuk refers to Yosef. Don’t put your trust in people who are unworthy. Put all your trust in Hashem.
The Limits of Action
The topic of bitachon is difficult and frequently misunderstood, because the parameters are not so clear cut. The rules are different for each person and each situation.
In the case of Yosef, his chief strength was his trust in Hashem. He was an ish matzliach, and wherever he went, people could see that Hashem was with him and bringing him success. He should have realized that for him, there was no need to make a keli in nature, since he had already experienced so many revealed miracles. For him, even the small effort of asking the sar hamashkim for a favor fell below the standard expected of him.
The lesson for us is that we need to put in effort commensurate with our spiritual level. Once we’ve made a reasonable effort, though, we need to leave the rest up to Hashem and not live with constant anxiety.
Is it Bitachon or Avoidance?
Letting go of anxiety should not be mistaken for laziness or avoiding the problem. On the contrary—faith enables us to take action from a place of strength, not panic. It means realizing that Hashem put us in this situation and He wants us to use our full range of strengths, intellect and creativity to resolve it.
With deep faith, we can hold two extremes inside of us at the same time: to let go and put our trust in Hashem, while at the same time tackling the problem with every bit of intelligence, skill, hard work and energy that we have. The possuk (Devarim 15:18) says, “Hashem will bless you in everything you do.” Even while we are busily working and trying to solve our problems, we are mindful that Hashem is giving us the strength to do so. It’s only thanks to G-d’s endless kindness and support that we have the power to do anything at all.
I used to spend a lot of time dreaming up solutions to my problem, and then getting frustrated or depressed when things didn’t work out exactly the way I planned. Once I learned to let go, I realized that blessings can come in many forms, in ways I could never have anticipated. By trying so hard to control the situation and insisting that it play out the way I imagined, I was actually inhibiting the infinite flow of blessings from above.
We don’t know from where our salvation will come. Our problem might resolve through a natural process or in a completely unexpected way. There is not necessarily a link between the effort that we invest and the rewards. Hashem can shower blessings on us that completely surpass the puny efforts we put in. Bitachon means knowing that Hashem is already preparing the solution, even when we can’t see it. Our only job is to take the next step.
Based on a lecture by Rebbetzin Yehudis Heller