Bitachon Never Brings Shame

The pasuk says in Tehillim, בְּךָ בָטְחוּ וְלֹא בוֹשׁוּ — "They trusted in You and were not ashamed." Simply understood, this means that our ancestors would speak about the greatness of Hashem and about His ability to save them in every situation. Then, when they needed salvation, they placed their trust in Him and He came through for them. They were never embarrassed for having trusted in Hashem. But what happens if a person truly believes in the power of Hashem, speaks about it openly, strengthens himself with bitachon, and yet does not receive the salvation he hoped for? Does that mean he was "ashamed" because of his bitachon? Rabbi David Sutton explained this pasuk with a powerful story that took place in Eretz Yisrael. A young child, only three years old, was diagnosed with a terrible illness. The doctors treated him, and for a while the child went into remission. But eventually the illness returned, and when the boy was five years old it became extremely aggressive. The doctors finally told the mother that, unfortunately, there was no longer any hope of saving the child. The mother answered firmly, "As religious Jews, we never say there is no hope. Hashem can do anything. I believe my son can still be healed." From that point on, she spent her days in the hospital saying Tehillim and strengthening herself with emunah and bitachon. The secular doctors repeatedly told her not to waste her time. "There is zero percent chance of survival," they insisted. But every day she sat there with Tehillim in her hands, believing that Hashem could still perform a miracle. Eventually, however, the child's condition deteriorated further and it became clear that the end was near. The mother even purchased a burial plot and began making arrangements for what seemed inevitable. But there was one thing that deeply troubled her, and she called her Rebbetzin to discuss it. "I had so much emunah," she cried. "When the doctors told me there was no hope, it did not shake me. I believed completely that Hashem could save my son. But now, when my son passes away, the doctors are going to say, 'You see? We told you so. Your hope was unrealistic.' I can accept that Hashem wants my son back, but I do not want to be ashamed because of my bitachon in Him." The Rebbetzin answered her with tremendous wisdom. "Every moment that you hoped to Hashem for salvation was a mitzvah," she said. "Believing in Hashem's ability to help is a great mitzvah, and you fulfilled it on the highest level. Now you have another mitzvah — to accept the will of Hashem with emunah. If you continue doing what Hashem wants from you, you will never be ashamed from it." These words gave the mother tremendous strength. The next day, the child passed away. The doctors were certain this woman would collapse emotionally after everything she had gone through. They brought in professionals who deal with trauma and psychologists who treat severe depression. But when they spoke to her, they were astonished. She was calm, composed, and spiritually strong. She did not appear broken in the way they expected. The doctors asked her, "How are you so strong after such a painful disappointment?" She answered, "Until now, I had a mitzvah to hope to Hashem, and I tried to do that with all my strength. Now I have a mitzvah to accept the will of Hashem, and I will try to do that with all my strength as well." The doctors were overwhelmed by her words. They began crying from the strength and sincerity of her emunah. Later, the mother said, "My Rebbetzin was right. I was not ashamed because of my bitachon. On the contrary, my bitachon brought even more honor to Hashem." This is the meaning of בְּךָ בָטְחוּ וְלֹא בוֹשׁוּ . A person who places his trust in Hashem is never truly ashamed. Sometimes the salvation comes exactly as he hoped. Sometimes Hashem's plan is different. But if a person does what Hashem wants from him at every stage — first hoping, praying, and believing, and afterward accepting Hashem's will with love — then nothing negative ever comes from his bitachon. Instead, it always brings honor to Hashem's Name.