This is how a Jew lives. When it's failing and it's failing and it's failing, then you stop and say, “Hashem, I give up.” Even if it's not yet failing, why do you have to wait for it to fail to realize the lesson you should have known when you began? Ve'lo anachnu. I am not in control. We are not in control. We don't drive the car. We're not the one holding the steering wheel. Hashem is holding the steering wheel.
So you know what you do? Put in the effort because Hashem wants you to put in the effort. Hashem requires us to put in effort. Hashem put us on this earth to put in max effort. But don't believe one bit in your effort. Put in all the effort in the world, and then give up and say, “Hashem, I'm happy with box B. Hashem, I am happy with whatever results you decide. I give it up completely to you.” And that's what this Mishnah is saying. This Mishnah is not just advice and Bitachon (trust in Hashem). This Mishnah is practical advice. Hu haya omer, like we began, he used to say, “Young people, you think you're vibrant? You think it's all in your hands? You think you're going to live forever? There's a Hashem in the world. You don't live forever.”
And when someone passes away, you're like, “Wow, this life is over.” No, no, no. It's still in Hashem's hands because He could bring the person back to life and will one day bring the person back to life. And the people who are alive need to do everything to know, to make it known that Hashem is their God. Hashem does so much in our lives to make sure we are reminded that He is in control. He is the one who forms us. He is the one that created us. He's the one that understands the story the best. He judges, He testifies. He's the person opposing us. And He is eventually one day going to judge us.
When I tell you something interesting about life, no matter what you do, no matter how much you accomplish, no matter how powerful you think you are, Hashem will often bring you to your knees. Hashem will bring you to a moment where you're forced to give up. Hashem will bring you to a moment where you throw up your hands. You're like, “I can't believe I can't control this.” And you'll be like, “But I can control so many things. It's right there.” And Hashem will make it happen that you have to give up, that you have no choice but to say, “Hashem, I take whatever you have in the box of your choice.” Hashem, every person has this. I don't care. The more you succeed, the more He'll bring you to your knees. The more you accomplish, the more He'll make you realize that it has nothing to do with you. This Mishnah is practical advice. You want to know how to live life? Don't just live it with Bitachon and trust in Hashem. Give up to Hashem, because when you do, you will see incredible things happen. So you want to know a practical way to get somewhere? Give up. That's how you'll get there.