We can place our hope only in Hashem when we wholeheartedly believe that He is in complete control of everything that happens in this world — that nothing occurs without His will, and that He can change any situation in an instant.

In fact, the Smak lists this as one of the 613 mitzvos: to know that the One who created the heavens and the earth is the sole ruler above and below and in all directions, as it says, “I am Hashem your G-d” (Shemos 20:2) and “You shall know this day and take it to heart that Hashem is G-d in the heavens above and on the earth below; there is none else” (Devarim 4:39).

The Smak adds that some philosophers claimed that the world runs on its own, without a true Ruler. Even the splitting of the sea, the Exodus from Egypt, and all the miracles that occurred, they said, happened naturally, without attributing any of it to Hashem. We must believe that such claims are false: truly, Hashem governs the entire world by His word. He took us out of Egypt and performed all the miracles for us. Not even a person stubs a finger below unless it is decreed from Above, as it says, “From Hashem are a man’s steps established” (Tehillim 37:23).

This teaches us that Hashem controls everything that happens in the world — nothing occurs independently of His will. Recognizing this is not just an intellectual truth, but a mitzvah: we are commanded to know it and internalize it, making it part of our very understanding of the world and our relationship with Hashem.

When we internalize this mitzvah — that Hashem governs every detail of this world and nothing happens without His will — we are able to place genuine hope in Him. True tikvah is not wishful thinking or mere optimism; it is the calm, confident certainty that the same Hashem who sustains the world now can also change any circumstance at any moment.

Hope according to the chofetz chaim should be based on the recognition and belief that Hashem is always present, always guiding and sustaining us, even when we cannot see it.

Despair arises from limited understanding and from looking at the world without seeing Hashem’s supervision. When the Jewish people face difficulty, they may think that Hashem has abandoned them or hidden His providence.

But this is not true. The Chofetz Chaim emphasizes that Hashem’s eyes are always watching over the entire world, as it is written: “And Tzion said: ‘Hashem has forsaken me, and Hashem has forgotten me.’ Can a woman forget her nursing child, or cease to have compassion for the son of her womb? Even if these may forget, I will not forget you,’ says Hashem.” (Isaiah 49:15).

Even when it seems that Hashem has hidden His face from His people, He never abandons Israel, even for a single moment. As the Chofetz Chaim explains, if Hashem were to truly hide His face, even for an instant, the world and the Jewish people could not continue to exist. The very fact that we still live, breathe, and have blessings in our lives is itself proof of His constant supervision and mercy.

When we look around and recognize all that we do have, we see that Hashem is with us—sustaining us and guiding us through every situation. This realization strengthens our hope for the future, reminding us that the same Hashem who continues to care for us now can bring the yeshuah at any moment.

Based on Rav Shmuel Homner, in his Sefer, the Eved HaMelech, we can understand what it means to hope in Hashem:

It is written, “Do not trust in nobles, in a human being who has no salvation.” (Tehillim 146, Pasuk 3) This warns us not to trust in people, and not to have any reliance or confidence in human help or salvation. Rather, we should trust in the Holy One, blessed be He, who does everything, watches over everything, shows mercy to all, and gives life and sustenance to every creature. We should know and believe that everything that comes to us is from Him, and our eyes and hearts should be directed toward Him, awaiting and hoping for His salvation alone in every circumstance.

The Sefer HaIkkarim teaches that a person must always maintain hope in Hashem, trusting that He can bring salvation regardless of the circumstances. One should turn to Hashem with the firm belief that no matter how hopeless things seem, He can bring about salvation. We must remind ourselves that nothing can prevent Hashem from fulfilling the outcome we long for — His power is unlimited, and His mercy and kindness are infinite. He can lift a person out of the deepest troubles, not because they are worthy, but because of His boundless compassion.