352 - Need Help?

The famous words in the Torah, “ein od milvado” - there is nothing else in the world except for Hashem, mean that everything in the world is completely under Hashem's control and guidance. That being the case, it's sometimes difficult to understand why we need to do anything. Because if Hashem runs the show 100% and my efforts do not make any difference, as taught by the Torah commentaries, why do I need to do anything? And the simple answer is that Hashem has commanded us that even though He does everything, we still have an obligation to do what is called hishtadlus, to make our own effort.

What is super vital to remember is, as the Mesillas Yesharim writes clearly that although we have a mitzvah, an obligation to make our own effort in whatever area that may be, we are to remember that our efforts have no effect on the final result. We do not and cannot help Hashem. Hashem runs the show exclusively. The Rambam in his 13 principles of faith writes, “He alone did everything, does everything and will do everything.” It is not a partnership together with Hashem where we are helping Him. He exclusively runs the show. When it comes to the mitzvah of hishtadlus, if one needs to make a living, of course, one's parnassah comes exclusively from Hashem, but I have a mitzvah, an obligation to make my own effort, even though that effort does not affect the final result and does not help provide for my parnassah one iota.

In the same way, if somebody is sick, the first thing to do is only turn to Hashem because again, that's all that really counts. Only He can make me better and a visit to any doctor actually, in its true essence, does absolutely nothing. However, again, I have an obligation because Hashem said so, to do hishtadlus, to go visit the doctor or take medication. However, even under the wing of hishtadlus, the Chazon Ish writes something fascinating about hishtadlus itself. He says that 50% of our obligation towards our hishtadlus is accomplished through tefillah, davening, because Hashem can send our salvation, be it parnassah, recovery from illness, the spouse one is looking for, children or whatever other area it may be. Hashem can send that salvation even without us needing to pray. In a sense, our prayers are a form of hishtadlus, of our own efforts to try to accomplish something. So says the Chazon Ish that 50% of our efforts even within hishtadlus should be directed towards tefillah.

What a tremendous opportunity we have every single day to talk to Hashem. Anything and everything that we may be going through, we can talk to Hashem about. And remember, we have an obligation to fulfill our mitzvah of hishtadlus. So, we have to do what we think will help. Visit the doctor, make an effort in business and whatever other area may be relevant. But never to forget that 50% of our efforts should be directed towards our davening, our personal conversations with Hashem.