The concept of Bitachon is like any Avodat Hashem/ Service to G-d. It has the rule that the even smallest accomplishment is an accomplishment. The Hovot HaLevavot writes that any accomplishment, even the smallest, in our Avodat Hashem must be celebrated. Bitachon is not all-or- nothing. Even though we speak of “Bitachon” as a concept, it isn’t true that either you have it or you don’t. There is no one level that is known as “Bitachon.” Bitachon is endless. There is a pasuk in Yeshayah that says,
בטחו בה׳ עדי עד
Rely on Hashem, until forever.
The rabbis explain this to mean that there is no end to the levels of bitachon that a person can reach. Therefore, even the smallest amount of bitachon is an accomplishment.
The Sefer Shomer Emunim says the following:
There is a Gemarah that tells us, “This world is compared to a wedding. Grab and eat, grab and eat.” When you are at a wedding, there are a lot of people, so you take what you can. The food is here now, and it might not be here later
So too, in this world, any little bit of Avodat Hashem that we can get is a great accomplishment. So, although we might not be on a super level of Bitachon, any level is an accomplishment, and it must be celebrated and appreciated.
The Elder of Novardok demanded a very high level of Bitachon from himself, and his students. He would sign his name, ב,ב which stood for Baal Bitachon. He was trying to demand, of himself, and others, to work on Bitachon to the most extreme level. He was once asked the following: The Gemarah says that many people did like Rav Shimon Bar Yochai (a very high level) and were not successful. So why preach and talk about such high levels if we aren’t there?
The answer is an important rule. We have spent a lot of time talking about Bitachon (Baruch Hashem this is class #500!) Sometimes, we might discuss topics that are really above us; for example, when we spoke about Leah not wanting the Dudaim, because she wanted to rely on Hashem alone. That is not for us! We are not holding there. Be honest with yourself.
Many people tried the approach of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai and they weren’t successful. But there are only very few people that can reach that high level. That is why most people would be satisfied with a lower level of Bitachon. So when they asked the Elder of Novardok why he spoke about such a high level, he answered that there is a Halacha in Shulchan Aruch that if a person can’t find the arbah minim on Succot (i.e. if he can’t find a kosher lulav or etrog) he should take one that is pasul (ineligible) but without a beracha. Why?
Because we don’t want to forget the mitzva completely. And he says it’s the same with Bitachon. We don’t want to forget the full Mitzvah. Our Bitachon might not be as real as it’s supposed to be. We might not have the “real deal,” but it’s still Bitachon. Furthermore, by learning about these higher levels, at least we won’t forget about the concept. And one day we might even get there.
That’s an important rule. Sometimes you get just a little bit of it, but that is also something.
The Sefer Eineh Yisrael, by Rav Yisrael Eliyahu Weintraub brings out this concept when discussing a famous question:
The Chazon Ish has an approach to Bitachon which sounds like Bitachon means understanding that whatever happens is what Hashem designated and decided for me ( and not that you rely and get what you want). Rabbi Weintraub asks if this means that the Chazon Ish is saying you can’t get what you want with Bitachon. His answer is, Of course not! There are many pesukim and proofs that if you rely on Hashem, you will get what you want.
So why does the Chazon Ish bring out this point? He answers that it’s because every Mitzvah has a minimum shiur. For example- there is a minimum amount of matzah you can eat, although the more you eat the better. What is the smallest size your tzizit can be? (Maybe the larger the better.) Everything has a minimum. So when the Chazon Ish says that Bitachon means believing that whatever Hashem does is for your own good, and that He’s in charge of the world, that is the minimal level of Bitachon. It doesn’t mean that it’s the end, because Bitachon has level upon level upon level.
Sometimes people make a mistake and think that the minimum level is the only level. But that’s wrong. There are levels and levels. That’s rule in our religion. There are levels to everything. There is a minimal level of what is called Shemirat Shabbat. There are higher levels too of course. There is a minimum level of kashrut. If you don’t eat Bet Yosef or even Glatt, it’s still kosher. This doesn’t mean there isn’t more to grow, but there are levels. Therefore, any level of religion that we have, we celebrate.
But we also have to realize that the sky is the limit.
Have a wonderful day.