Day 37/40: Faith and Trust – Emunah & Bitachon (Psalm 37)

Margit Kresin
4 days ago
3 min read

Personal Introduction

There are times in life when faith comes easily – and others when trust becomes difficult. We know that God is there, and yet we struggle inwardly with worries, fears, and unanswered questions. This is precisely where Psalm 37 begins. It invites us not only to think about faith, but to live trust.

Faith is not the same as trust.

Having faith is one thing – blind trust is another. It's human to be afraid of the unknown. Each of us will at some point face the challenge of not only believing in God, but entrusting our lives to Him.

In the Bible we encounter two important Hebrew terms for this: Emunah and Bitachon .

What does Emunah mean?

Emunah (אמונה) describes unwavering faith in God. In biblical Hebrew, the word is often translated as steadfastness , perseverance , or faithfulness . Emunah is the conviction that God exists, that He is the Creator, and that He is sovereign over all things.

Emunah forms the foundation of our faith. It speaks primarily to the mind and the heart: I know who God is.

What does Bitachon mean?

Bitachon (בטחון) goes a step further. It describes the lived trust in everyday life – the inner confidence that God means well and guides things well, even if we do not understand the circumstances.

Bitachon manifests itself in action: I consciously place my path in God's hands. It is possible to possess Emunah (spiritual wisdom) and still struggle with Bitachon. Many believers are familiar with this tension.

Emunah and Bitachon – the biblical context

Emunah and Bitachon are closely related, but not identical. Both describe an inner attitude of dependence on God. They lead to a life oriented towards God's will and trusting in Him – beyond logical explanations.

Their goal is to overcome fear and worry and to find inner peace – the Bible speaks here of Menuchat HaNefesh (מנוחת הנפש), the peace of the soul.

Psalm 37 – Learning to trust in uncertain times

Psalm 37 addresses people who experience injustice and wonder why evil seems to succeed. David encourages them to focus not on their circumstances, but on God.

Psalm 37 - Faith and trust in God, Emunah and Bitachon

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” (Psalm 37:5)

This verse brings together Emunah and Bitachon: belief in God's sovereignty – and active trust in His guidance.

Other key statements from Psalm 37:

Trust is shown in good deeds (verse 3)
Joy in God strengthens trust (verse 4)
Patience leads to inner peace (verse 7)

What trust means in everyday life

Bitachon doesn't mean everything will suddenly become easy. It means consciously letting go and surrendering to God's guidance. Those who trust need not be troubled by the apparent prosperity of the wicked – for God's justice remains.

This trust brings serenity, even in difficult phases of life.