What is the difference between Istikhara and reliance on Allah (Tawakkul)? And is the one who relies on Allah better, stronger in faith, and has a more positive expectation of Allah than the one who performs Istikhara?

Istikhara is an act of reliance upon Allah, entrusting matters to Him, seeking a share from His power and knowledge, and from His excellent choice for His servant. It is among the necessities of being pleased with Allah as Lord. Abandoning it is not from the Sunnah. When performing Istikhara, one should not be resolute about the matter for which they are seeking guidance, nor about abandoning it, because that would be a betrayal of trust in Allah.