Does Judaism Say Nothing Can Stand Against Willpower?

It is written "Everything is in the hands of Heaven except for the fear of Heaven." This means we cannot decide what will happen to us when it comes to material matters. On the other hand, it is said "Nothing stands in the way of will," and generally, much is said about will as decisive. How does this reconcile? Can we lead ourselves to certain places? Achieve certain things, like a specific profession, and so on? What is a person's role in all these decisions?

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Greetings and blessings,

The expression "Nothing stands in the way of will" is not found in our sources, and it seems to have been said in the last hundred years..

However, our sages said something similar: "In the way that a person wants to go - they lead him" (Makot, page 10, side b). They also said: "If a person comes to defile - they open the way for him; if he comes to be purified - they help him".

This means Hashem, who controls reality, often gives a person the choice of which path to take, allowing him to corrupt himself or become sanctified..

Please see this article::

https://www.hidabroot.org/node/102608

In matters of profession and health, etc., it is Hashem who gives us the opportunity and ability to succeed, and He alone determines our level of success. In other words: the choice of how to act is in our hands, but the execution of the choice (the outcome) is in the hands of Hashem..

Please refer to the following articles on choice:
https://www.hidabroot.org/he/question/16738
https://www.hidabroot.org/he/question/116671
https://www.hidabroot.org/he/article/119350
https://www.hidabroot.org/he/article/116170

With blessings,

Daniel Belles