inspiration-against-despair-from-the-meam-loez-on-mishleiproverbs-24-6
The effort is PART of the success.
The effort & success exist as integral parts of each other...which is why it is so important to NOT GIVE UP.
As long as you try, as long as you "dig," then you are succeeding.
You are doing exactly what Hashem wants you to do.
You ARE fulfilling your purpose—just via your effort.
A treasure of beautiful hidden sparks lies within even the ugliest aspect of life.
Here's the English Me'am Lo'ez (page 55) on Mishlei/Proverbs 2:4:
If you will seek her like silver and search for her as hidden treasures; | אִם-תְּבַקְשֶׁנָּה כַכָּסֶף; וְכַמַּטְמוֹנִים תַּחְפְּשֶׂנָּה |
A man should know and believe that there is a treasure of hidden sparks of holiness within all material things, even when they appear ugly on the outside.
He must believe that by sufficient effort, he will certainly find the hidden great good.
God has concealed precious stones and pearls in this world, and a man who sufficiently refines all his deeds will find the pearls.
Compare it to a king who dropped a gem into the sand, and commanded his son to search for it.