The Three Jewels are able surely to protect and sustain sincere practitioners. 

The Buddha knows us in our deepest nature and will recognise our sincerity.  

In his great compassion he only desires our progress on the path.  

There is no doubt he will respond.  

Furthermore, it is our own fault that we are not yet enlightened, not the fault of the Triple Gem.  

Things go wrong not because of the elements of refuge, but because we are somehow out of phase.  Even though we have lived countless lives and passed aeons in samsāra, somehow we have missed the most important thing; enlightenment.  

If follows that we must become very diligent and rely totally upon the Three Jewels rather than on our own ideas and fancies.  

Thus far, our record is quite poor, or we would be awakened by now. 

- Atiśha