Overcoming Obstacles on the Spiritual Path A person may experience obstacles on his spiritual path from his immediate family and extended family, as well as from others, because of a multitude of outlooks and disagreements regarding the point of ultimate truth. He must ask God to help him so that no one will have any power to keep him away from the way of truth. He should not be intimidated by any scorn and anything else that might tend to demoralize him. Rather, he should walk on the way of truth on his level. Overcoming Obstacles from This World “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am alone and poor.” “I pondered [alone] — I am like a bird alone on a roof.”

Master of the world, what shall I say? How shall I speak? “Gazing to the right, I see that no one knows me. My refuge is gone, no one seeks my soul. I cried out to You, HaShem. I said, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of life.’ Heed my cry, for I am truly impoverished. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they have overpowered me.”

Master of the world, You know secret things. You are the essence of truth. You desire truth, You are close to those who call You in truth. You alone know everything that I undergo every single day, including those people who oppose me every single day, materially and spiritually, to keep me away from the path of life. “HaShem, how many are my adversaries, how many rise up against me.”

You know how many obstacles, hindrances, enticements, seductions and confusions overwhelm me at every moment to keep me away from the way of truth, Heaven forbid, from coming close to You and those who fear You and Your true Tzaddikim.

I am so low, my sins are so many, my soul so distracted and my mind so confused that obstacles and hindrances from everyone in the world overwhelm me and provoke me at every moment.

There are obstacles from my immediate and extended family, and from other people, because of a multitude of differences in outlook and disagreements regarding the point of ultimate truth.

Now, HaShem, God of truth, help me, save me, and strengthen me to truly serve You. Help me draw close to those who fear You, Your wholehearted ones who truly walk in Your ways. May no one have any power whatsoever to keep me away from the way of truth, whoever it may be, whether close to me or not.

The Only Person in the World Strengthen my mind to believe in You always. May I view myself as though I am the only person in the world, as the verse states, “Abraham was one.”

May I not heed or contemplate any obstacle, hindrance, mockery, scorn or anything at all that might demoralize me. May no one be able to confound me so that I fail to recognize the way of truth and straightness — not even if that person is greater and more righteous than I am.

Rather, may I act in the way of truth, as You have taught me since my youth through our holy, true rabbis. May I always remind myself that I have no idea what is going on in anyone else’s life.

May I be wholehearted and walk on the way of truth on my level, as You taught me through Your choicest, true Tzaddikim, who are the core of truth in all worlds. May I take no heed of any viewpoint that opposes their will, which is in fact Your will.

Even when I must meet people and speak with them — whether on spiritual or earthly topics — may they not distract my mind at all from the ultimate truth.

May I truly realize the verse, “Whom do I have in Heaven? I have not desired anyone on the earth besides You.”

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Be strong.