Do Things Really Happen for A Reason?

Have you heard the phrase, “Everything happens for a reason?”  I have.  Sometimes people say, “That was just meant to be.”  But is that really true?

Does everything really happen for a reason?  I would answer that question both yes and no.  I answer, “No” to those who mean that no matter what happens, God has a reason for either allowing it to happen, or, as some believe, making it happen.

I answer, “Yes” because there is a cause and effect.  The result is the effect, and the reason it happened is the cause.  Let me give you an example.

Let’s Go For A Drive

Almost every driver knows that for their car engine to operate properly it car-2needs to have the proper amount of oil.  If it runs out of oil, it will ruin the engine.  So, if someone’s engine gets ruined for a lack of oil, was that just meant to be?  Don’t things happen for a reason?  Yes, and in this case, the reason was a lack of oil.

Hopefully, for that example, most will agree.  But let’s try another example.  I’ll stay with the automobile for this next example too.

Suppose you have a flat tire. Was it just meant to be?  Everything happens for a reason.  But, what if someone stops to help you with your flat tire and over the course of the changing of the tire, you say something to that person that really helps them?

Now there are some who will argue that the flat tire happened for a reason.  They actually believe that God had a hand in it.  Why?  Because He wanted you to be at a precise location at a precise time so that you could say something to someone that would really help them.

What About Free Will?

To some people this sounds like a very godly and spiritual event.  I disagree. With that kind of thinking, we have driven off the road and are now trying to drive in a lagoon.  It’s a sinking theory, because it negates the free will that God gave us.

Suppose that you were so upset or distracted with the flat tire that you didn’t flat-tirespeak anything to the person helping you, other than, “Thanks for the help.”  Did this event still happen for a reason?  Did God really have a hand in it?  Some people will argue, “Well God knows if you are going to speak to the person or not.

Now I know this debate has been around for a long time.  And I am certainly not going to try to present a thesis on it in this short article.  But regardless of what opinion you have on the subject, ask yourself this question:  If God knows what I am going to do, and what I am going to say, then do I really have any choice in the matter?

If that is true, then indeed, everything is meant to be.  And perhaps that’s the reason why everything happens; it is all just meant to be.  But that leaves the door wide open for lots of unaccountability.  “There must be a reason why I robbed the store; I guess it was just meant to be!”

God Is At Work

Don’t get me wrong, I really do believe that God can and does get involved in the affairs of mankind.  I also believe that His thoughts and His ways are far beyond the thinking of mortal human beings.  I have seen God work in my life in remarkable ways.  I am sure you have too.

I also know that God works in individuals on a personal level.  His guiding is there.  There are times that you just know you should do something, and other times that you shouldn’t.

Those who excel at this are those who, wherever they are and whatever they are doing, have a habit of asking God if there is something that they should or could do.  I do understand that and I try to live that way.

But I just think we need to be careful about what we blame God for. The word “blame” may sound a bit harsh, but think about it.  It’s all too easy to say, “That flat tire happened for a reason,” all the while thinking that it was God Who made your tire flat for a reason.  If you are speaking on God’s behalf, you ought to be really certain that you are accurate!

We cannot just throw away the free will that God gave to us.  In all of life we have choices.  We can choose to be negative or we can choose to be positive.  We can choose to help people or we can choose to ignore them.  And we can choose to ask God if there is something special that He would have us do or say.

So, yes, everything does happen for a reason.

Mike Verdicchio
2009

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6 thoughts on “Do Things Really Happen for A Reason?

  1. Hi Mike,
    This is so true – we have free will to choose! And we are responsible for our own choices. Thanks for writing this.
    Kathy

  2. Hi Kathy!
    Thanks for your comment. You are so right about responsibility – we are all responsible for our own actions.
    God bless you,
    Mike

  3. Hi Mike and thanks for the teaching on “Do Things Really Happen For A Reason”.

    I don’t think things happen for a reason, mainly because the Bible says so in Ecclesiastes. I do believe there is cause and effect. I had to put my dog down yesterday, she was 13 and 1/2 and she was sick and I didn’t want her to suffer anymore. It was the most heart wrenching thing, I think I have ever had to do. She was sick, cause: old age, effect: death. The Vet believes in God and I could have said, well now she is at peace and will go to heaven. I didn’t speak of the Word because there is no profit in death. And secondly, there is no dog heaven. My “Pie Dog” did not die so I could speak the Word to the Vet about death. She was old and I had to ask God what was best for her in this situation. God cares so much about all things in our lives that he was willing to help me. He understands all things. We all live life to the best of our ability hopefully with God at the center. But there are never any “blessings indisguise”. God’s blessings are very plain to see and we don’t pay a price for them in any fashion. It is His good pleasure to bless us with no strings attached.
    God Bless You! 🙂
    Carol

  4. Hi Carol!
    Thanks for leaving a comment, and I’m sorry to hear about your dog. I’ve been there before and it is always sad.
    You are right, there is always a cause and effect, and we are responsible for our actions. And our loving God is very kind to give us His blessings, many, many times.
    God bless you,
    Mike