Today’s learning is dedicated to the refuah sheleima of Simcha Nosson ben Zissel.

Faith is dependent on a person’s mouth, as “I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth” (Psalms 89:2). In other words, the mouth speaking about faith is itself faith! It also brings to faith.   —   Lekutey Moharan II, 44

We last discussed that through faith and trust, we can overcome life’s challenging moments. As we strengthen our trust, we begin to realize that even the most undesirable circumstances are sent from Hashem and are for our ultimate benefit.

In truth, we make this declaration twice a day when we recite Shema, with the words “Hashem (YHVH) is our G-d (Elokim), Hashem (YHVH) the One and Only.” The tetragrammaton (YHVH) relates to Hashem’s love and kindness, whereas the name “Elokim” (G-d), refers to Hashem’s strict judgement. In these words, we proclaim that no matter what life sends us, we understand that it is all from Hashem; everything stems from Hashem’s mercy.

Similarly, at the conclusion of Yom Kippur prayers, as we stand at the pinnacle of spirituality, we proclaim seven times, “Hashem (YHVH), He is G-d (Elokim).”

But how do we internalize these words? Is such a level of trust truly attainable?

Firstly, it’s important to differentiate between faith and trust. When a person has faith, they believe that Hashem is the Creator of all. When a person has trust, they believe that everything Hashem does is for the best.

Rebbe Nachman teaches that as we strengthen our faith, we build trust. Like a muscle, the more we exercise faith, the stronger it grows.

Similarly, the Ramban compares the relationship between faith and trust to a tree and its fruit, respectively. When a person nourishes the tree, it begins to bear fruit. As we strengthen our faith, our trust grows.

We can build faith by recognizing that everything we have comes from Hashem. The more we see Hashem’s hand in our daily lives, the more we begin to depend and rely on Him for all our needs.

And how do we recognize that Hashem is the Source of all that exists? By offering thanks and gratitude to Hashem for all that we possess. Through this process, we begin to realize how much Hashem provides for us constantly.

In truth, it would be impossible to list out all that Hashem does for us, at any given moment. Hashem creates and sustains everything in this world and beyond, from the human eye with its millions of sensory nerves, to the highest of mountains in all its grandeur, to the vast galaxies and its billions of components.

Similarly, the Ralbag teaches that Hashem is constantly endowing new life into all that exists. Rabbi Shmuel Meir Riachi in his commentary on Tomer Devorah explains, “Everything in this world is made up of atoms. Each atom is made of a nucleus with electrons circling endlessly around it. If the electrons would cease to spin for even one moment, the atoms, and the objects from which they are constructed, would instantly collapse. Clearly, it is Hashem Who constantly directs the atoms on their course and gives them the power to keep spinning. Without His continued involvement, everything would cease to exist.”

The more we acknowledge and thank Hashem for all that He continuously provides, the more our trust and love for Him will grow.

(Parenthetically, gratitude also attracts more blessings from Above. This can be understood on a very practical level; when someone offers heartfelt thanks and gratitude, it’s natural to want to give them more. Similarly, Dovid HaMelech writes, “He who offers thanks, honors Me… I will show him the salvation of G-d.”)

In summary, we can overcome fear and anxiety by building our trust. We build trust by strengthening our faith. And we strengthen our faith by acknowledging and thanking Hashem.

Of course, giving thanks to Hashem is not a new concept. Throughout the Torah, we are instructed to remember the countless times Hashem has saved us and our forefathers. The first words we utter in the morning are Modeh Ani, when we thank Hashem for restoring our souls. And during the day, we thank Hashem constantly (i.e. in the form of prayers, blessings recited before and after eating, etc.).

However, as Rebbe Nachman teaches, there is a difference between knowing something in our mind and bringing that knowledge into our heart… The evil inclination floods our thoughts with many distractions. And when we lack a clear mind, it becomes very difficult to focus on the words we say. Without proper concentration, these words fail to leave a lasting impression on our hearts.

Therefore, Rebbe Nachman urges us to set aside a specific time each day to sincerely speak to Hashem. He teaches us to separate ourselves from all distractions, so we can offer Hashem our undivided attention.

This secluded conversation, known as Hisbodedus, opens many doors that would otherwise remain closed. Rebbe Nachman is known for providing an array of practical advice, but he emphasizes that Hisbodedus is “the best advice.” With Hashem’s help, we will continue our discussion on Hisbodedus next week.

Lastly, Rebbe Nachman teaches that a person must never feel that they are unworthy of Hashem’s grace and kindness. As Rebbe Nachman teaches, “No one should say, ‘Who am I to trust in Hashem and rely on His Kindness, seeing that I have done so much that was wrong?’ Rather, one should trust in Hashem’s kindness, for His compassion never ceases and He will sustain him, for ‘G-d is good to all.’ A person may be small in his own eyes, but he should not let this worry him. He should remain firm in his trust no matter who he may be.”

It’s important to note that everybody has their own level of trust. As Rebbe Nachman teaches, “There are higher and higher levels of trust, reaching to infinity.” Above all, a person must never be discouraged as they work on their faith and trust. As Rabbi David Sutton explains, “Developing, maintaining and raising our level of trust is a lifelong process, one step at a time.”

If you’d like to receive these messages via Whatsapp, please message me at 845-641-2648.

As always, comments are more than welcomed!