Radhanath Swami on Getting Closer to God

We should not complain when things go wrong in our life. We should never blame this person or that person; we should see that everything is happening by the sweet will of the Lord to give us the perfect opportunity to get closer to Him. But it is the exact reverse with us. When everything is going our way - when we are in good health, when people are properly respecting us - we think, "Oh, yes God, You are very kind upon me". But a really intelligent person thinks, when he disrespected, misunderstood, when things have been taken away from him, when he is losing everything, has been battered and smashed and kicked by the modes of the material nature, that God is very nice. And that this is just the opportunity that I have been waiting for, to surrender. In that condition, the intelligent person takes the opportunity and increases his humble devotion to the Supreme Lord. And this is the qualification of a sincere devotee - one who, even in the most negative conditions of life, can see the divine merciful hand of God behind the whole scene. This is the very glorious lesson - to get an opportunity to get closer to God in trying situations - that is illustrated time and again by God through His devotees.