Certainly one should never despair over one’s ability to fundamentally change oneself and do meaningful teshuvah. Teshuvah, the Torah tells us is not something that is “far from us.” All it takes is concentrated effort and a desire to truly improve.
A Weapon in the Battle Against Sin
It is this covenant between Israel and God that gives us strength in our battle against the Evil Inclination, as Chazal tell us (Sukkah 52b): “A person’s Evil Inclination attacks him with renewed strength every day and seeks to cause his death…and if not for God assisting him, he would not be able to defeat it.”
As a material creature, man does not inherently possess the wherewithal to overcome the powerful temptations of the Evil Inclination. It is only because he is fundamentally bound to God, and the root of his soul is Divine in its nature, that man possesses inner strength emanating from God Himself, the Source of all power, that enables him to resist the wiles of the Evil Inclination.
If we do make sincere efforts to improve ourselves, we are confident that the Almighty will help us succeed.
May we all be blessed with a year of health and happiness for all of Klal Yisrael, and merit the rebuilding of the Bais HaMikdash.
