When the world is going crazy, trust can work wonders

The Hormuz strait is closed. Many countries are scrambling to obtain energy and fertilizer. Fears of recession loom.

The US and Iran keep dancing back and forth between diplomacy and bombing threats. No one knows how long this situation will last. And the longer it lasts, the more harm to the global economy.

So what to do? When everything seems on the verge of falling apart, what can an individual do?

In one word: trust.

There is a story about the third Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek.

Here’s an excerpt from Google’s AI, relating the story and its significance. (Sources include Chabad.org, Derher, and others.)

A Chassid (disciple) once traveled to the town of Lubavitch in utter despair. His son had fallen dangerously ill, and after a prolonged battle, the physicians informed the father that the situation was entirely hopeless and the boy was on the verge of death.

The heartbroken father gained entry to the Tzemach Tzedek’s room, crying bitterly and begging for a blessing that his child should live.

The Tzemach Tzedek looked at him and replied with the brief, now-legendary Yiddish phrase:

“Tracht gut vet zain gut.” (Think good and it will be good!)

Taking the Rebbe’s words deeply to heart, the Chassid left the room and consciously forced himself to transform his mindset. He cast away his grief and fear, entirely filling his mind with absolute trust (Bitachon) that G-d would heal his son. He adopted an attitude of complete, joyful confidence.

When the Chassid finally returned home, his family delivered stunning news: at the exact moment he had changed his mindset, the boy’s condition miraculously turned around. The doctors had no medical explanation, but the child made a full and rapid recovery.

Chabad Chassidus, teaches a profound spiritual mechanic regarding trust in G-d:

Active Trust: True Bitachon is not just hoping for the best; it is an active reliance on G-d’s goodness.

Changing Reality: The Lubavitcher Rebbe later explained, that by forcing oneself to think that “it will be good” despite bleak circumstances, a person overrides their own limitations.

Awakening Kindness: This supreme effort breaks through spiritual barriers, forcing a shift in reality that triggers revealed blessings from Above—even if the person was not originally “deserving” of the miracle.

The story and explanation recounted in the above AI excerpt, tells us that by trusting in G-d, we can actually (as a reward for having trust) speed the Almighty’s salvation.

So when the world is going crazy, then strengthening our trust in G-d can work wonders.