Relating to the concept of bitachon (trust in Hashem) gets confusing sometimes.
On one hand, it's often presented as a way to get what you want.
Like, if you trust in Hashem that a disease or another unpleasant issue will pass, then it will—that's one message we often receive.
And it's often true.
We hear both stories about that happening and even experience it ourselves.
But it's not always true.
Bitachon also means accepting the worst as the very best thing that could happen; it's all from a loving God.
So it's a paradox that you can & should expect the best—yes, according to your definition of best.
But also to accept that when your definition of best doesn't happen, then that's also very good.
(I'm not on this level personally. Just laying it out and trying to work it out myself...)
On one hand, it's often presented as a way to get what you want.
Like, if you trust in Hashem that a disease or another unpleasant issue will pass, then it will—that's one message we often receive.
And it's often true.
We hear both stories about that happening and even experience it ourselves.
But it's not always true.
Bitachon also means accepting the worst as the very best thing that could happen; it's all from a loving God.
So it's a paradox that you can & should expect the best—yes, according to your definition of best.
But also to accept that when your definition of best doesn't happen, then that's also very good.
(I'm not on this level personally. Just laying it out and trying to work it out myself...)
Surviving and Even Thriving in a Body that Should Not Even Exist
This blog already described the mind-boggling bitachon of Rav Gershon Leibman here:
http://www.myrtlerising.com/blog/an-extraordinary-example-of-bitchon-plus-4-ways-regular-people-can-seek-to-emulate-this-level
But the Bitachon Weekly for Parshat Tazria-Metzora revealed further details of this extraordinary Jew.
A person involved in preparing Rav Gershon's body for burial noted that his body exhibited such severe physical trauma, he shouldn't have been able to exist: "...and how he existed, nobody knows."
And this revealed the paradox of bitachon that existed within Rav Gershon himself.
For example, when the Nazis invaded the town where Rav Gershon lived, Rav Gershon only stood behind the door to the beit midrash—and the Nazis never found him.
So his bitachon saved him.
Yet the Nazis captured him in the end and Rav Gershon spent time in a ghetto, plus several concentration camps.
Eyewitnesses testify that the Nazis beat Rav Gershon to death 3-4 times—yet he not only survived each lethal beating, but thrived for decades afterward in a body unsuitable for survival.
So on one hand, Rav Gershon's incredible level of bitachon did not rescue him from torturous physical suffering...but on the other hand, it allowed him to not only survive each lethal beating, but enabled him to thrive on miracles until the end of his life.
For decades, Rav Gershon maintained a youthful & energetic demeanor—in a body that wasn't even viable.
To me, his most extraordinary quality was his level of inner joy despite all the suffering & trauma he endured.
And I think that's the lesson right there:
Maintaining bitachon definitely reaps blessing and even miracles.
But not always in the way we want or expect.
Sometimes yes...but not always.
However, someone who truly internalizes a state of bitachon will maintain a state of simcha no matter what.
May we all merit to achieve complete bitachon in Hashem.
http://www.myrtlerising.com/blog/an-extraordinary-example-of-bitchon-plus-4-ways-regular-people-can-seek-to-emulate-this-level
But the Bitachon Weekly for Parshat Tazria-Metzora revealed further details of this extraordinary Jew.
A person involved in preparing Rav Gershon's body for burial noted that his body exhibited such severe physical trauma, he shouldn't have been able to exist: "...and how he existed, nobody knows."
And this revealed the paradox of bitachon that existed within Rav Gershon himself.
For example, when the Nazis invaded the town where Rav Gershon lived, Rav Gershon only stood behind the door to the beit midrash—and the Nazis never found him.
So his bitachon saved him.
Yet the Nazis captured him in the end and Rav Gershon spent time in a ghetto, plus several concentration camps.
Eyewitnesses testify that the Nazis beat Rav Gershon to death 3-4 times—yet he not only survived each lethal beating, but thrived for decades afterward in a body unsuitable for survival.
So on one hand, Rav Gershon's incredible level of bitachon did not rescue him from torturous physical suffering...but on the other hand, it allowed him to not only survive each lethal beating, but enabled him to thrive on miracles until the end of his life.
For decades, Rav Gershon maintained a youthful & energetic demeanor—in a body that wasn't even viable.
To me, his most extraordinary quality was his level of inner joy despite all the suffering & trauma he endured.
And I think that's the lesson right there:
Maintaining bitachon definitely reaps blessing and even miracles.
But not always in the way we want or expect.
Sometimes yes...but not always.
However, someone who truly internalizes a state of bitachon will maintain a state of simcha no matter what.
May we all merit to achieve complete bitachon in Hashem.
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