Think Good Things & it Will Be Good… Bitachon

Faith is the foundation of a healthy, solid life. I am not talking about faith in oneself or faith in nature. Let’s be reasonable. If statistics dictate that I have a greater chance of failing, I am not reasonable or rational if and when I decide to proceed, armed with positive faith. Using my mind, I weigh the probabilities in either direction and come to a logical conclusion.

What is the definition of faith and trust in God? “I have full faith and trust in God that it will all work out for the best.” What does that mean?

Rabbi Bechaye writes in Duties of the Heart that trust in God is complete peace of mind, a condition in which a person is entirely calm, knowing that he can rely on God and trust in Him that all will be well.

When a person reflects upon how God made the world and all that is in it — how God created him, loves him, cares for him, fulfills all his needs, knows what is best for him; how God alone always keeps an eye on his life and does good even for those who are undeserving — he will then be overtaken by an immense trust, bitachon, in God.

“I am in the best of good hands all the time.”

Such faith and trust can be found only in God, who created heaven and earth and is the source of every moment in this world.

When a person places his complete trust in God, feeling entirely at ease with complete confidence in God, this is enough to merit God’s salvation.

This is true even for someone who is seemingly undeserving of God’s blessings at this moment. For this worship of and trust in God — the placing of oneself in God’s care — alone gives him the merit to be helped.

When the revered Michoel Beliner was still a young man, his son fell deathly ill. Michoel went to the local house of study and shared his bitter news with his colleagues. Doing their best to encourage him, they assured him that God would indeed have mercy and advised him to travel immediately to the Grand Rabbi, the Tzemach Tzedek, for a blessing. Michoel began to weep, saying he would like to go, but the doctors said it was only a matter of hours, so why should he set out on the road?

One of the older Chassidim berated him. He quoted from the Talmud that one should never despair of being granted God’s mercy and added that surely the good Angels born of the action of going to the Grand Rabbi would succeed in postponing the Heavenly verdict until he reached the Rabbi.

One of his friends, a tailor, offered to join Michoel on his trip, and together they set out on foot, here and there hitching a cheap wagon ride. Arriving at last in Lubavitch, Michoel was fortunate to be received by the Tzemach Tzedek immediately.

“When I entered the Rebbe’s room,” he later on related, “and handed him the request for my son, I thought to myself, ‘Who knows what has meanwhile happened with him?’ and I began to weep. The Rabbi read my note and said, ‘Do not cry. You must have bitachon, full trust in God, with a simple faith that He will save your son. Tracht gut vet zien gut (Think good and things will be good). You will yet celebrate the bar mitzvahs of your son’s son!’

Soon after, the boy recovered completely. From then on, whenever Michoel experienced difficulty, he would bring to mind the luminous face of the Rebbe as he spoke those words, and the situation would change for the better.

This is the meaning of the words, “Think good, and things will be good.” Place your complete trust and confidence in God, place yourself securely in His providence, and then, all will undoubtedly be good. 

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Chapter 87  www.aspiritualsoulbook.com