What Happens When Trust Is Tested? This text is a discussion of the 28th cheshbon (reckoning) from Sha'ar Cheshbon HaNefesh (Gate of Introspection), focusing on a high level of bitachon (trust in God) and what happens when that trust is tested. The highest level of bitachon isn't just relying on God to get what you want. It's about complete self-surrender—giving your life, your money, and your children to God, trusting that He knows what's best. The true test of this trust comes when things don't go the way you expected, and God gives you something you didn't bargain for. To explain this, the text uses a parable: imagine a man gives his nephew a house and a field as an outright gift. The nephew then decides to tear down the house and rebuild it. If the uncle returns years later and finds his gift unrecognizable, does he have a right to be upset? Of course not, because he gave it away completely. It's now the nephews to do with as he pleases. Similarly, if we dedicate our soul and our resources to God, we can't complain or mourn when He does something we don't like. We must trust that He knows what's best, even if it doesn't look that way to us. We should not retract our commitment or show expressions of pain and upset, especially since God has been taking care of us all our lives. The text then references several biblical sources to support this idea: Hosea 11:3-4 : God says, "I trained Ephraim, I took them by My arms, but they didn't know that I healed them." This verse highlights that God is often working behind the scenes to help us, and we are not always aware of His care. Rabbenu Yonah in his commentary to Mishlei (Chapter 3) adds some other sources: Psalm 31:6 : We say nightly, "Into Your hands I commit my spirit." This isn't just a bedtime prayer; it's a declaration of trust, asking God to guide our path because He knows what is best for us. Job 2:10 : When Job's wife tells him to curse God, he replies, "Shall we accept good from God, and not accept evil?" This shows that we must accept all that comes from God, both good and bad, as part of His plan. Proverbs 3:12 : "For whom the Lord loves, He rebukes, just as a father rebukes the son whom he favors." This verse teaches that hardships are not punishments but a sign of God's love and a means for our growth, just as a father disciplines a child he loves. This introspection reminds us that even when life doesn't go as planned, our trust in God should remain unshaken. He is always working for our benefit, even when we don't understand it.