DEUT123 Our Sages of blessed memory have said that repentance fails a sinner only because of the evil of his heart. Hashem will not close the gates of repentance to the one who desires to come close to Him, but He will open them to him and show him the just path, as it is written (Tehillim 25:8): "Hashem is good and just; therefore, He guides sinners in the path"; and [this verse]: "And you will seek Hashem your God from there, and you will find Him if you seek him with all your heart and all your soul"; and (ibid.30:14): " For this thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart to do it"; and (Tehillim 145:18): "Hashem is close to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." The Holy One Blessed be He has wrought a great good for mankind by preparing the way for offenders and sinners to flee from darkness to light; and He has not shut the doors of repentance to them even if they have multiplied offense, as it is written (Yirmeyahu 3:22): "Return, you backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings." Penance is accepted even when the sinner repents because of his many troubles, and much more so when his repentance proceeds from the fear [and love God, as it is written (Devarim 4:30): "In your distress, when all these things come upon you, in the end of days, you will return to Hashem your God and listen to His voice." The Holy One Blessed be He assists the penitent to repent and to attain even what is not within man's power, and he forms within the penitents a spirit of purity to attain the components of repentance [and the qualities of his love] as it is written (ibid.30:2) And in this context it is written (ibid. :6) -- that is, even with respect to what you lack the power to attain, the Holy One Blessed Be He will circumcise your heart and give you the power to attain it.