Bitachon[740] transcends time and place. For a person to have bitachon means that he trusts in G-d that things will assuredly transpire in a certain way. True, his mind does not have room to accommodate that eventuality. Nor does he understand how that eventuality can be warranted by his own actions or by his own prayers, or even by the reason for which he desires it. All he has is a trust in G-d alone, by virtue of His power and ability.

Moreover, the matter does not reach a point at which it affects him and worries him. Even though he would not like the alternative eventuality on any account, he is not ruffled by any deepseated unrest. He considers all along that G-d will presumably help out. After all, it could not be otherwise.

In the same way, if a person is in need of something that should take place in a specific way, and he is able to see to it that it should indeed happen, it certainly does not worry him. After all, things are going to work out exactly as they ought to. [One thing is for sure:] he would not like the alternative possibility on any account. If, for example, a debt falls due, and he has the money ready, he is certainly relaxed, and the alternative scenario - not paying - he does not at all want to hear of.

The same applies to bitachon, one's trust in G-d. One has peace of mind even when he has nothing. It does not cause him unrest, and the alternative scenario he does not even want to consider; he only places his hope in G-d, Who will certainly help out. He has no kind of basis, such as a promise from someone. It is his trust alone that prevents his predicament from disturbing his composure. His trust is as sturdy as the trust of the individual who has all his cash ready for payment.

And to generate such trust is a weighty task indeed.

   

Notes:

740. (Back to text) From a talk of the Rebbe Rashab as preserved by his son and successor, the Rebbe Rayatz, whose manuscript notes only recently came to light.