Welcome to the Daily Chizuk. The Chovot HaLevavot writes in Sha'ar HaBitachon that although we know everything we have is given to us only by Hashem—whether it is our health, our money, or a certain position—we are still chayav (obligated) to make a hishtadlut (effort). A person is obligated to try his hardest in the normal way of the world to get what he wants, and then believe that all his effort did was give him what Hashem had in mind to give him anyway. In fact, hishtadlut, if done the right way, with the right intentions, is a mitzvah (commandment). The Taz, in Siman (section) Shin Lamed Vav in Yoreh De'ah, writes that the efforts a person makes to heal themselves, like going to doctors, count as a mitzvah, and the Mefarshim (commentators) apply it to Parnassah (livelihood) as well. So make an effort. Try hard. Just make sure to have kavanah (right intentions). And what are the right intentions? All I am doing through my hishtadlut is finding out what Hashem had in store for me. Therefore, whatever the results are, I believe it is ratzon Hashem (the will of Hashem), and therefore I am happy because Hashem only does the best for me.
A couple of years ago, a great rabbi, Rav Menachem Mendel Lemberger, who was an Av Beit Din (head of a rabbinical court) in Yerushalayim, passed away after going through a very tough sickness. Someone once accompanied another rabbi to visit him in the hospital. While they were standing behind the curtain, they overheard the doctors telling Rabbi Lemberger, “If we don't amputate your leg right now, your life will be in danger.” The rabbi was crying, and he pleaded with them. He said, “There must be something else you could do. Please don't take my leg.” The rabbi still had hopes of getting out of the hospital and continuing to do his great work, his chesed (kindness). But the doctor said, “We have no other choice. We consulted with top specialists. This is the only etzah (advice).” Then he saw the rabbi who had come to visit and said, “Rabbi, please, maybe you could talk to the doctor. Maybe you could think of something else.” But after a short discussion, the rabbi said, “The doctors are right. There is nothing else. They have to amputate.”
At that moment, Rabbi Lemberger called his family in, who were also standing behind the curtain, and told them, “We begged for mercy. We cried. We prayed. We did all the Hishtadlut possible in a situation like this. And now it is clear that this is the will of Hashem. From this moment on, we are not allowed to second-guess. No one here should cry one more tear. Nobody here should feel bad. It's clear that this is what Hashem wants, and now we will accept His will.” And then he said, “I know Hashem loves me, and I want to thank Hashem right here and now for giving me the strength to overcome this challenge and have emunah (faith).”
This is an example of hishtadlut with the right intentions. You're obligated to try your hardest to produce the result that you think is favorable. But once you see that Hashem decided otherwise, then you totally accept it with love. Have a great day.