Welcome to the Daily Chizuk (encouragement). There's a very high level of Bitachon (trust) described in Tehillim, Tzadi Aleph: Yoshev b'seter Elyon: someone who sits in the refuge of Hashem. Omar la Hashem, he says about Hashem. Machsi u'metzudati: He is my refuge and he is my fortress. He doesn't live b'derech ha-teva (the natural way); he relies solely on Hashem. He merits an unbelievable amount of divine protection.
The Pasuk (verse) says, “He will never have any fears or misfortunes.” He could be at war and have a thousand people fall on his left and ten thousand at his right. They won't be able to touch him. There could be a financial collapse with millions affected. He will be protected. Why? Because he said, “Hashem is my protector.” The Pasuk continues, “Hashem will send down His guardian angels to protect you in all ways. You will trample on the lion and the viper.” The Gemara Berachot tells of a poisonous snake that was harming the people. So Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa, a tremendous Baal Bitachon (person of trust), placed his heel on the opening of the pit. The snake bit his heel, and the snake died. The Pasuk continues: Hashem says, “This is the wonderful life of the true Baal Bitachon.”
But what makes a true Baal Bitachon? Rabbi Shimshon Pincus explains: “How real is Hashem to you?” He gave a mashal (parable) of a person who has to cover a $20,000 check by 10 o'clock in the morning, so he goes to pray Shacharit (morning prayer) with a big pit in his stomach. He starts the Amidah, saying, “Elokeinu (our God), Hashem, you created the whole world. Elokei avoteinu (God of our fathers), even if I'm not worthy, I have zechut avot (merit of the fathers). Koneh hakol, Hashem, you have everything. You have all the money in the world. Be'ahava, and you love me.” And he says, “al nifleotecha, you do wonders for me every day; you could help me.” He finishes the Amidah, but he's still very nervous. He leaves the shul and goes on the road, and all of a sudden he sees his wealthy second cousin and feels at ease.
This is absurd. You just said you have an Avinu, you have a loving merciful father who has billions, and even if you're not worthy, Hashem's mercy is endless, but you're still nervous. All of a sudden, you see your second cousin, and he puts you at ease? It's embarrassing to say, but to this person, his second cousin is real and Hashem is not. When Hashem becomes real to you, that's true Bitachon.
Chazal (the Sages) tell us: Why do the Jewish people pray sometimes and they're not answered? Because they don't know how to call out to Hashem properly. Rabbi Pincus gave another mashal. He said, “Imagine you have a person walking at night in a dark alleyway, alone, with a lot of money in his pocket. A couple of big men start walking towards him. And all of a sudden, he sees the police. He yells out with all of his might, ‘Police!’ He calls out with conviction and relief. He's so excited to see the police.” When a person calls out to Hashem, do you feel relieved? “Here is my savior. Hashem is going to help me.” This is not an easy level to attain. It's a very high madregah (level), but the closer you get to Hashem, the closer He gets to you.