As it was taught [in a Baraisa]: Rabbi Eliezer HaGadol says: Anyone who has bread in his basket and says, “What will I eat tomorrow?” is one of those of little faith.

Many have asked about this Midrash: why does it begin by saying, “this is Yosef”? Its simple explanation is as follows.

The Torah does permit a person hishtadlus, effort, for his physical needs, as the pasuk says, “And [Hashem] will bless you in all that you do” (Devarim 15:18). And it is written, “And you shall gather in your grain and your wine” (Devarim 11:14), and Rabbi Yishmael said in Maseches Berachos (35b), “Conduct yourself with them in the way of the world.”

The heart of the matter is this: the principle for a Jew is that his heart should be calm and trusting in Hashem. The reason the Torah permitted hishtadlus is that not every person can reach the level of complete bitachon. Therefore hishtadlus was permitted, to help him reach the level of one who trusts. Every person needs to take up some work or business, so that it will be easier for him to trust in Hashem.

We find this throughout the Torah: sometimes it permits something so that it can help a person reach the level that is sought. As [Chazal] said, “A person should always engage in Torah and mitzvos even not lishmah, for through doing them not lishmah he will come to do them lishmah” (Pesachim 50b). Not lishmah was permitted so that it would help him arrive at lishmah.

Accordingly, the right amount of hishtadlus is not the same for everyone; each person according to his level. One who can come to trust with a little work, if he exerts himself beyond what he needs for that, it is already counted against him as a sin against the middah of bitachon, for he chased after hishtadlus and did not trust.

But one whose bitachon is still weaker than his friend’s may work more than his friend, until he too can calm his spirit and his heart to trust in Hashem. For the essence of bitachon is calming one’s spirit and heart, to cast one’s burden upon Hashem (Tehillim 55:23).