וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶל־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים ל֥וּ יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל יִחְיֶ֥ה לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃
И сказал Авраам Богу: 'О, если бы Измаил жил перед Тобой! '
Akeidat Yitzchak
Man's beginnings, i.e. the potential he is born with, call it genes or whatever, are a gift of G-d, something beyond his control. Similarly, G-d’s help is required for man to be able to bring to fruition all the potential he has been equipped with at birth. However, on the way toward the attainment of his potential, man must employ all his willpower, endurance, diligence etc. though all of these by themselves do not guarantee that he will meet with success.