The Chovos Halevavos explains that if a person trusts in Hashem it’s almost like Hashem says I have to take care of that person. He relied on Me, he trusts in Me, how could I not take care of him. And explains the Chovos Halevavos quite the opposite, when a person becomes self-absorbed, when he becomes self-reliant and says I can take care of my own needs, my business acumen, my wisdom, my capacity, then Hashem says okay, if you feel you could do it, you’re on your own.
Explains the Chovos Halevavos, at that point Hashem leaves him up to the devices in which he trusted. And explains the Chovos Halevavos, what happens to that person is he’s left to his own devices and in a very short while he will fail. Not only is bitachon, trusting in Hashem, something that’s very calming, not only is it something that’s very real and appropriate, but it has a very positive effect. If I train myself to trust in Hashem then Hashem is more involved and more active in my life. If I ignore that reality and I learn to be self-reliant and independent, what happens is Hashem is mesaleik, Hashem removes Himself, if it could be. Hashem still controls every outcome, but the amount of intervention, the amount of Hashem changing things, is lessened and I’m in fact left to my own devices.
