Sources
Strengthening our hope and trust in Hashem is so important—it can even be the source of our salvation. The Chofetz Chaim explains that when a person puts their trust in Hashem, Hashem Himself becomes their shelter in this world and in the next.
He also gives very practical advice on how to work on this. He says: think back over your life until now. For all the years you’ve lived, Hashem has never let you go without food, drink, clothing, or the other things you needed—not even for a single day. If that’s the case, why worry about the future? Just as Hashem has helped you until now with kindness and mercy, you can trust that He will continue to help you going forward.
When you find yourself in a difficult situation, look back on your life and reflect on what Hashem has done for you. From that reflection, you can trust that He will help you in your current situation as well.
This website offers a personal bitachon journal that you can use to record the times Hashem has brought you salvation in different areas of your life. You can keep it private, and revisit it whenever you need encouragement. Seeing your own experiences of Hashem’s kindness will help you hold onto hope and trust in the future.
Additional Sources
Strengthening Tikvah – Rabbeinu Yonah
See Source in HebrewOne of the most powerful ways to deepen our Tikvah—our hope in Hashem’s salvation—is to draw strength from His past acts of redemption. The Gemara teaches that one who connects the blessing of Ga’al Yisrael directly to the Shemoneh Esrei merits the World to Come. At first, this seems surprising: why is recalling Hashem’s redemption right before davening so significant? Rabbenu Yonah explains that remembering how Hashem took us out of Mitzrayim reinforces our awareness of His limitless power and His constant chessed. When we reflect on Yetzias Mitzrayim, we remind ourselves that Hashem alone controls everything, can change any situation in an instant, and lovingly supports those who rely on Him. With this mindset, we enter Shemoneh Esrei with genuine faith and concentration, speaking directly to the One who has already proven through countless miracles that He can change our circumstances. And beyond davening, this remembrance strengthens our bitachon in everyday life: just as our ancestors trusted Hashem in their moments of need, so too can we place our trust in Him today, allowing our tefillos—and our lives—to be filled with hope for future salvations.