Feeling Close

And the third aspect of teshuvah is the ability to completely return to Hashem and to feel close to Him... to be able to speak with the Ribbono shel Olam and feel elevated by the experience. To feel exhilaration in davening and learning, to experience joy and pleasure in Shabbos Kodesh... not even to contemplate doing an aveirah. Can a person attain such a level on his own—especially after having been distanced from Hashem in the past?! Even if a person were to make all the preparations in the world, he will not necessarily experience אלוקים, קרבת closeness to Hashem—a madreigah that is so lofty, a person doesn’t have the wherewithal to create it on his own. It takes a miracle.