Difficulties are part and parcel of the lives of great devotees. God subjects His devotees to tests so that their faith in Him can be strengthened and to purify their hearts. It needs a great effort on your part to cleanse a stained vessel. Difficulties are meant for cleansing the vessel of your heart. When the idol of Rama was taken away from Thyagaraja, he was grief- stricken. He questioned the divinity of Lord Rama. "Don't you have the power to solve my problems or do I lack devotion ? Definitely I have devotion, it is only you who lack power."
He continued in this vein extolling his devotion in the process became egoistic. When he sat in meditation, wisdom dawned on him. He realized his folly in doubting Rama's divinity. He reflected, without the grace of Lord Rama, could a monkey cross the ocean? If Rama lacked power would Lakshmana worship Him or for that matter Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth serve Him and the extremely intelligent Bharata offer his salutation? "Oh! Rama Certainly your power is immense. It is because of my ignorance and meanness that I doubted Your Divinity." Thyagaraja sought His pardon and surrendered himself to Lord Rama. - From Bhagawan's 1998 Christmas Discourse.
