Bitachon: Pleasing Hashem

from Ohr Avigdor Shaar HaBitachon by Rabbi Avigdor Miller 

If you want to fulfill the mitzvah of bitachon, you should know it requires of you to do those things that will give you more favor in the eyes of Hashem. As much as possible you should try to fulfill everything, even more than others do. Show Hashem that you trust in Him and that’s why you are serving Him more. Don’t let it bother you that you are serving Him to get a benefit. As long as you’re serving Hashem, relying on Him, and doing all the mitzvos, That is the correct way of bitachon.

You cannot underestimate the importance of pleasing Hashem as a step towards meaningful bitachon. David Hamelech said, "To fulfill Your will, O G-d is my desire (Tehillim 40:9)." And it says, "To find favor in the eyes of Hashem (Mishlei 3:4)." Or, when you bring a korban, "You should slaughter it for your favor (Vayikra 19:5)." He also said, "Life results from His favor (Tehillim 30:6)."

Our lives depend on Hashem’s favor, and therefore we should always be thinking about what it takes to gain His favor.

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To be a real baal bitachon, you want to make the best impression you can on Hashem

To be a real baal bitachon (trusting person), you want to make the best impression you can on Hashem. Of course the best impression must be internal, not just external. So when you think the way Hashem wants you to think and act the ways that a Jew is supposed to act, you can be called a baal bitachon.

If you are careless in performing your duties, sometimes overstepping the bounds and doing something wrong, it shows you’re not a real baal bitachon. A genuine baal bitachon is trying his best to win Hashem’s favor. This is one of the foundations of bitachon. If you are applying to Hashem in any special matter in which you want Hashem to help you, you should make it your business to be exceptionally energetic in fulfilling His will, more than before.

Just as you’re asking Hashem to do something to change the present situation, such as overcoming an illness, Hashem will say to you, “Let’s see something on your side. What are you doing?” And therefore every request you make of Hashem requires a certain amount of additional effort on your part.