He said, “Even if many days and years pass and it seems that you have accomplished nothing with your words, do not abandon it. Every word makes an impression.
“It is written, ‘Water wears away stone’ (Job 14:19). It may seem that water dripping on a stone cannot make any impression. Still, after many years, it can actually make a hole in the stone. We actually see this.338Cf. Avot DeRabbi Nathan 6:2, regarding Rabbi Akiva.
“Your heart may be like stone. It may seem that your words of prayer make no impression on it at all. Still, as the days and years pass, your heart of stone will also be penetrated.”
In our other works, there is considerable discussion of the importance of secluded meditation and conversation with God. Read those portions carefully, and most importantly, follow the advice written there, that it may be beneficial to you forever.
שָׁמַעְתִּי בִּשְׁמוֹ לְעִנְיַן הִתְחַזְּקוּת בְּהִתְבּוֹדְדוּת וְשִׂיחָה בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין קוֹנוֹ.
The Rebbe often encouraged people to seclude themselves in meditation and conversation with God.
אָמַר: שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ אִם עוֹבְרִים יָמִים וְשָׁנִים הַרְבֵּה, וְנִדְמֶה לוֹ שֶׁלֹּא פָּעַל עֲדַיִן בְּשִׂיחָתוֹ וְדִבּוּרָיו כְּלוּם, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן אַל יִפֹּל מִזֶּה כְּלָל! כִּי בֶּאֱמֶת בְּוַדַּאי עוֹשִׂים הַדִּבּוּרִים רֹשֶׁם.
He said, “Even if many days and years pass and it seems that you have accomplished nothing with your words, do not abandon it. Every word makes an impression.
וְהֵבִיא מָשָׁל כְּמוֹ מַיִם הַיּוֹרְדִים עַל הָאֶבֶן, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּדְמֶה לָנוּ שֶׁאֵין לְהַמַּיִם כֹּחַ כְּנֶגֶד הָאֶבֶן הַקָּשֶׁה וְאֵין נִכָּר רֹשֶׁם הַמַּיִם בָּאֶבֶן, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן כְּשֶׁהַמַּיִם יוֹרְדִים עַל הָאֶבֶן כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה זְמַנִּים רְצוּפִים הֵם עוֹשִׂים נֶקֶב בְּהָאֶבֶן כַּנִּרְאֶה בְּחוּשׁ.
“It is written, ‘Water wears away stone’ (Job 14:19). It may seem that water dripping on a stone cannot make any impression. Still, after many years, it can actually make a hole in the stone. We actually see this.338Cf. Avot DeRabbi Nathan 6:2, regarding Rabbi Akiva.
כְּמוֹ כֵן, אֲפִלּוּ אִם לִבּוֹ לֵב הָאֶבֶן וְאֵין נִכָּר בּוֹ רֹשֶׁם דִּבּוּרָיו וּתְפִלָּתוֹ אַף עַל פִּי כֵן בִּרְבוֹת הַיָּמִים וְהַשָּׁנִים יִנְקֹב לִבּוֹ הָאֶבֶן עַל יְדֵי שִׂיחָתוֹ כְּמוֹ (אִיּוֹב יד): "אֲבָנִים שָׁחֲקוּ מַיִם" כַּנַּ"ל.
“Your heart may be like stone. It may seem that your words of prayer make no impression on it at all. Still, as the days and years pass, your heart of stone will also be penetrated.”
(וּכְבָר מְבֹאָר הַרְבֵּה מֵעִנְיַן הִתְחַזְּקוּת בְּהִתְבּוֹדְדוּת שֶׁהוּא שִׂיחָה בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין קוֹנוֹ בַּסְּפָרִים הַנִּדְפָּסִים שֶׁמִּכְּבָר עַיֵּן שָׁם הֵיטֵב. וְהָעִקָּר, שֶׁתְּקַיֵּם הַדְּבָרִים כְּכָל הַכָּתוּב שָׁם וְכָאן לְמַעַן יִיטַב לְךָ לָעַד).
In our other works, there is considerable discussion of the importance of secluded meditation and conversation with God. Read those portions carefully, and most importantly, follow the advice written there, that it may be beneficial to you forever.