BS’D
Emuna is an innate gift given to every Jew. The emuna seeds were ‘planted’ during the entire experience of Yetziat Mitzrayim; with every plague another seedling was lovingly planted in our hearts by Hashem, a testimony of His love for us. We read in the Pesach Hagaddah, “Ani v’lo saraf (It was I {Hashem} and not an angel)” who redeemed you from Mitzrayim; so that we remember that we were and still are personally taken care of by Hashem Himself.
Genuine emuna is a settled intellectual conviction that what Hashem has promised will indeed come to pass. Borei Olam’s promises of our future are as certain and reliable as though they were being told to us personally right now. We should be keenly aware of Hashem’s love for us at every given moment. The word bitachon (trust) is derived from the word betach (secure). In other words it describes a state of safety, security and certainty, not just intellectually but emotionally.
“Ki karov eilecha hadavar me’od b’ficha u’vilvavecha la’asotoh (For the matter is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it)” (Devraim 30:11). Although this particularly refers to our ability to do teshuva, it is a well known teaching that after doing a spiritual accounting we are gifted with incredible closeness to Borei Olam. The ability to bond to Hashem is very near to us, we need not travel far to access it, as it is warmly planted in our hearts.
