Is it normal for a Muslim to find great difficulty in obedience due to a defect in his heart, and can this be overcome by contemplating the universe and supplicating together?

The success in performing acts of worship and experiencing their sweetness has many causes, among them knowing Allah the Almighty, loving Him, and supplicating to Him. This is achieved by reflecting on His revealed legislative signs (the Qur’an and Sunnah) and His cosmic signs (contemplating oneself and Allah’s creations), as well as pondering Allah’s blessings upon His servant. The more a servant loves his Lord, the more he experiences the sweetness of worship. Moreover, asking Allah the Almighty, striving diligently, persevering, being patient, treating the soul with what is contrary to what it dislikes, abandoning sins and disobedience, reading about the rewards of good deeds, and studying the biographies of the righteous – all of this aids in obedience.