Human existence constantly swings between feelings of unshakable confidence and sudden, terrifying vulnerability. This dynamic reveals a profound truth about our absolute dependence on the kindness of God. There is a sharp contrast between the stability we experience when God shows His favor and the deep anxiety that takes over the moment He conceals it.
The primary approach among commentators is that when God is pleased with someone, He grants them strength, health, and greatness. In this state of divine favor, a person becomes as firm and established as a strong mountain [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד]. Other scholars view this mountain allegorically. It can symbolize the human intellect, which God fortifies so that a person will not fail and surrender to the evil inclination [רד״ק]. Alternatively, the mountain represents the soul itself, which God fills with courage [מאירי]. Conversely, a completely different perspective suggests a state of blockage, where God places massive mountains in front of a person, creating a barrier that separates them from Him [ביאור שטיינזלץ].
When circumstances suddenly flip and God removes His direct care, a person experiences a profound break. It becomes instantly clear that all prior strength came entirely from God. Once God conceals His presence as a result of human sins, the individual is immediately filled with anxiety over the troubles that follow [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד]. On a spiritual level, this concealment causes the intellect to weaken, allowing the evil inclination to overpower the person [רד״ק].
However, this resulting dread is ultimately a form of divine kindness. The sudden withdrawal of God's presence is specifically designed to wake a person up and encourage them to repent. If God were to continue providing a false sense of peace despite a person's wrongdoings, or if He were to hide completely without sending any corrective hardships in this world, the individual would never know they needed to fix their actions. Without this vital wake-up call, they would be left to face eternal panic in the world to come [אלשיך, מאירי].