Lesson 7

Even if a person is not able to serve Hashem properly, as long as he still yearns for Him, he should certainly strengthen and encourage himself just because of the fact he still has a ratzon, an aspect of the verse"חִזְקוּ וְאִמְצוּ לְבַבְכֶם כָּל הַמְיַּחֲלִים לָה—Strengthen and empower your heart, all those who hope to Hashem.” A person shouldn't get down on himself about anything in this world, since there is nothing worse than falling, may Hashem save us. So too, every person should encourage his friend not to get discouraged by anything in this world. Even if he knows the way he truly is, nonetheless, he should still strengthen his friend, since it is much easier to lift someone else up than it is to lift up oneself, as the Sages say, "A person can't release himself from captivity." And when a person doesn't knock his friend down—on the contrary, he encourages, inspires, and renews his friend with words that restore the soul—then, even if he himself is very far from avodas Hashem, it can happen that he will merit to return to Him. (Based on Sichos HaRan 120)