Daily Chizuk #1066

Chazal tell us that because Yosef did too much hishtadlut by asking the Sar Hamashkim for help, he had to stay in jail for two extra years. That means if he would not have done the extra hishtadlut, Pharaoh would have had his dreams right away and Yosef would have gotten out immediately at that time. We see from here that too much hishtadlut can actually have a negative effect on what we are trying to accomplish. Hishtadlut done with the right intentions is supposed to connect us to Hashem. When we know we are going through the motions just to camouflage Hashem’s involvement and He is really the One bringing the results, we will do just enough to fulfill that requirement and then stop, having bitachon in Hashem.
Hishtadlut is necessary, but only a hishtadlut that Hashem would be happy with.