David HaMelech teaches us in T’hilim (32:10), “The one who trusts in Hashem, kindness will surround him.” If you put your trust in Hashem, He will shower you with kindness. Chazal assure us that Hashem grants special protection, mercy, and kindness to those who put their absolute trust in Him. Rabbeinu Bachya, in Kad HaKemach, wrote: “One who trusts in Gd, he is rewarded by being carried high above affliction – even when it is befitting for such affliction to befall him.”
In sefer Yalkut Shim’oni, R’ Eliezer and R’ Tanchum explain in the name of R’ Yirmiyahu: “Even a wicked person who trusts in Hashem will be surrounded by kindness.” When one has bitachon, he is guaranteed results, despite his personal standing as a righteous person or a wicked person. The Eitz Chaim commentary explains that even if a person is unworthy of Hashem’s kindness, the merit of his hope, prayer, and trust in Hashem can enact supernatural salvations on his behalf, as the pasuk in B’reishis 49:18 states, “Liyshiascha Kivisi Hashem–I hope for Your salvation, Hashem.”
The basis of our existence is the realization of the concept “Ein Od Milvado.” There is nothing besides Him – Hashem is the ultimate Controller, Conductor, Facilitator, Creator, and Owner of everything and every occurrence in existence – past, present, and future. In times of trouble, Rav Chaim of Volozhin advises that a person should concentrate on Hashem’s absolute power, recognizing that there is no force in all existence that has any influence to help or harm him except for Hashem’s will. If he fully acknowledges this truth, nothing in the world will be able to harm him (Nefesh HaChayim).
When a Yid is in a difficult situation, he works on strengthening his emunah and bitachon. Saying Sheim Shamayim b’kavanah, thinking Adon HaKol, is an exercise in emunah and bitachon. Everything depends on the sincerity of his bitachon, through which he can be redeemed from troubles, even if he is not worthy. True kavanah is about communicating with Hashem and realizing that you are speaking to a true and live G-d who is listening to every word you utter. The world and all of its resources are in His control, and He is the only one who can truly disseminate at will. During prayer, our focus should be completely on Him.
The Vilna Gaon teaches us that when we focus on the kindness and mercy that Hashem has bestowed upon us in the past, and recognize that we were not truly deserving of His gifts – rather we received them only due to His kindness and mercy – then we can begin to rely on His kindness once again. Once we realize that all of His gifts of the past were pure kindness and mercy – and we know that His kindness is endless – we can be confident that He will help us again now.
List of People Who Need a r’fuah sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Yonasan ben Sigalit
David ben Sarah
Yaakov ben Simchah
Eliyahu ben Margalit
Yitzchak ben Mazal
Yitzchak Chaim ben Sarah
Yosef ben Nosrat
Moshe ben Mazal
Mordechai ben Chanah
Shlomo ben Miriam
Yosef ben Renee
Nesanel ben Miriam
Fredel bas Hendil
Rachel Leah bas Esther
Adele bas Sarah
Ava bas Ilana Esther
Sonia bas Rachel
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Ruchama Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel
Esther Hadasah bas Devorah
Ora bas Naomi
Miriam bas Rivkah
Elka Rachel bas Sarah Malkah
Lielle bas Esther
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.