“And she went and she filled the bottle with water” (Bereishis 21:19)

“She was lacking in faith” (Midrash Rabbah ch. 53)

In filling the bottle Hagar was seemingly taking the most logical course of action for one who is sick in the desert. Yet the Midrash seems to claim that Hagar filled her bottle more than she needed thus crossing the fine line distinguishing between the necessity of hishtadlus and a lack of faith.

There is a parable of a man who is traveling in a carriage together with a king who is renowned as a benevolent and generous ruler. Certainly the former has no need to worry about what he will eat and drink throughout his journey. If the man prepares for himself a large supply of food it’s clear that he does not recognize the king’s generosity. Furthermore one can also marvel at the king’s patience for bearing the man’s impudence in allowing him to board his carriage with his own food in hand. (Rav Aryeh Leib Chasman Ohr Yahel vol. 3 Lekach Tov)

Imagine awaking one morning to discover yourself in a magnificent palace surrounded by fragrant orchards gourmet food and a vast array of luxuries and riches. All you desire is yours for the taking. Yet as you tour your exclusive accommodations you’re still clutching your doggie bag from home…

What inside this bag is so crucial that you can’t manage without it in the midst of all this opulence?

Worries.

A giant bag filled with fears that seems to continuously grow larger.

In the evening the bag bursts open onto your bed spilling onto the delicious feather pillows the satin sheets and the soft blankets. It doesn’t allow you to sleep the entire night as its contents continuously whisper: “What’s going to be?”

Similarly we all sit in the carriage of the King of all kings. Every worry and doubt is a proof of our negligible faith. This is the criticism of Hagar. After witnessing the manifest miracle of a river of life-giving waters created especially for her in the heart of the desert she should have realized that Hashem would not abandon her. Just as she had water then she will have water in the future. So why did she find it necessary to fill the bottle? (ibid.)

Please Hashem! Please take away these bundles of worry for my son’s shidduch. I’m willing to listen patiently to the suggestions and make the necessary inquiries but I realize that ultimately You are the One who pairs two people in this world. I have nothing to worry about. I’ll daven and leave it up to You to give my son the very best wife for him.

Please Hashem take away this heavy heavy burden of parnassah. Take away the worries for health and the smaller ones as well: “How is my son going to manage in yeshivah?” and “When will the baby begin to talk?”

Chazal teach in Maseches Megillah 18: The Sages did not understand the words “Hashlech al Hashem yehavcha — Heave your burden upon Hashem.” Rava bar Bar Chana said: “They did not know the boundaries of the quality of faith until they learned it from an Arab who tosses his burden upon the camel and no longer struggles under its weight as it is no longer upon him.” (ibid.)

Is there anything lacking in this Palace of the King? Nothing at all.

Leave it up to Him. He’s taking care of it all. He’s our G-d and loving Father.

At this wondrous moment when we open our eyes and discover that we are truly living in the Palace of the King and that all He wants is to bestow infinite goodness upon us then we can appreciate that we don’t need those bundles of worries!

The King’s carriage is drawing us — together with our bundles — toward our destination. It would be so much easier to leave them behind. We’ll be so much lighter when we believe in His desire to grant us goodness. It’s to our benefit to trust Him.

This is the quality of faith in HaKadosh Baruch Hu and with this man will judge the extent of his own trust in Hashem. Every time he feels a physical heaviness in his worry for parnassah etc. it’s a sign that he has not cast these bundles of worries upon Hashem. The quality of faith is such that he will not feel any weight or worry regarding his needs in this physical world. Upon Hashem he shall heave his burdens. (ibid.)

The only thing to worry about is why you are worrying!

The bag doesn’t allow you to sleep the entire night as its contents continuously whisper: “What’s going to be?”