FALLEN FEARS AND PHOBIAS

Question:
So much has been happening in my life. One "unexpected" difficulty after the next. The combined stress and feelings of worry leave me feeling full of fears and phobias that I will meet with a dead-end situation in life. What to do?

Answer:
An important rule to remember in life: Hashem only sends a test to a person that he can handle. And if it seems above his level, that is obviously a trick of the evil one.

Thus, the phobias and fears of failure and "losing out" are a direct cause of the evil side convincing us so. He takes advantage of this to make us feel meek and weak. Indeed the main reason that people give up is simply because of this.

So, what to do? The stress and worrisome feeling are to push you in a specific direction. It is up to you where you direct it. If you are accustomed to doing hitbodedut, training yourself to consistently talk to Hashem and involve Him with your day-to-day life situations, then the natural direction pushed will be upwards toward Hashem. But if not, then obviously the direction will push a person elsewhere, Heaven forbid.

When you join Hashem in your stressful situation, this eventually and miraculously gives you the strength to overcome these fallen fears and phobias. Like what Reb Eliezer, the father of the Baal Shem Tov, told his little son (around age 4) before Reb Eliezer passed away: "Fear no one except for Hashem". A strong heart helps a person overcome all of his fears. See Likutey Moharan part 2 lesson 43.

All the best and be strong.