Welcome to the daily chizuk (encouragement). Everybody wants to live a life of tranquility and happiness. Menuchat HaNefesh (peace of mind). But one of the major disturbances to our peace of mind is de'agah, worry. Everybody has worries. Some are worried about money. Some are worried about getting married. Some are worried about health. And some are worried about raising children. Imagine mastering a skill that could give you a worry-free life. The Chovot HaLevavot, in his introduction to the chapter on Bitachon (trust), describes the wonderful and beautiful life of the Baal Bitachon (one who trusts in Hashem). And the first thing that he says, using the words of the Lev Tov: “Yesh lo Menuchat HaNefesh meha-de'agot.” He has peace of mind. He has peace of mind from worries. And then he says, “Ve'i efshar lo le'adam lihyot meshuchrar mide'agot.” It's impossible for a person to be worry-free. “Ela im hu boteach baHashem” (Unless he trusts in Hashem). Unless he's a boteach baHashem. There is no other way to achieve it.
A man once told me. He said, “I'm worry-free.” He said, “I have a good business. All my children are married. And now I'm worry-free.” And the Chovot HaLevavot is saying, “Impossible. Unless he's a Baal Bitachon.” The doctors will tell you about all the wear and tear that worry causes the body, especially the heart. But worry accomplishes nothing. It's wasted energy. It's only Hashem that controls everything. And all of that emotion can be used for something much more beneficial. When you worry, you can't concentrate. You can't accomplish.
Rabbi Ephraim Waxman once said, “Imagine someone comes to your house to do an energy efficiency test. You think you have a good heating system, and they show you a crack in the wall, and another in the window, and 90% of your energy is going to waste.” That's what worry is all about. But someone who could bring emunah (faith) and Bitachon into their lives, and trust in Hashem, can save all of that energy and use it for things that really matter in life. Have a great day.