BS’D
Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated L’iluy nishmat Omri Levi HY’D, the beautiful neshama of the 19 year old soldier who was brutally killed in last nights terror attack in Be’er Sheva. May his soul bask in the Divine radiance among all of the righteous who have departed from this world, Amen.
There are obvious negative sides to fear which need to be discussed.
One negative repercussion of fear is that it encourages more fear and delusions, thus inhibiting us from living life to the fullest. For instance, fear of dying may cause a person to stop traveling. Fear of becoming sick may bring a person to such paranoia that he will be hesitant to touching surfaces for fear of germs causing him become ill.
However, on a spiritual realm, fear distances us from Hashem by convincing us that we are alone and that Hashem has chas v’Shalom abandoned us. This thinking builds barriers in our connection to Hashem disabling us from seeing and accepting Hashem’s promise that He will keep the Jewish people safe. Indeed, the truth that Hashem will never forsake us fails to reassure us if we are tightly enclosed in fearful thoughts.
All fear emanates from weakened emuna. Thus, internalizing the knowledge that anything that happens is only Hashem’s will is the first step to putting a person back in touch with truthful reality. Yet, this step is not sufficient. We must also internalize the truth that everything is from Hashem and is thus for our best. We can use our gift of free will to uplift our fears and replace them with emuna.
Though Hashem’s presence shines brightly, it is unseen. In contrast, the tangible perception of nature is actually an illusion. Concentrating on the thought that Hashem is always with us and is in control of everything is the antidote to fear.
