“Everything Happens for a Reason” – Really?

I don’t have a problem with that statement. Those that I have heard use that phrase are doing so because they believe in the sovereignty of God–that nothing happens beyond his control. While the phrase may be overused, I do agree with that underlying thought.

Thanks for your comment.
But I have a question for you. You say “Nothing happens beyond his control” … does that mean he controls all the abuse in the world, physical, sexual, etc?

If so, it would make God out to a pretty nasty parent. We’d put parents behind bars if they had the power to control these things, but still allowed them to happen.

Lookin’ forward to tomorrow’s chat!

Yes, I do believe He controls everything and because of that I do believe He allows bad things to happen. He wasn’t looking the other way when you had your accident. He didn’t lose control for just a moment. He can use all things for our good, if as you say, you let Him and don’t become bitter instead.

I often wrestle with this same concept. But once in a while I think I get a glimpse of a bigger picture- perhaps a more eternal perspective- and things seem to make more sense. This really is an underdeveloped idea in my head, but I’ll offer it to perhaps be completed or more adeptly articulated (or completely debunked) by you or someone else. Here’s the jist of my thought…If this earthly life, with all its pain and joy, is not really what it’s all about, perhaps the causes of the pain and joy are not as important as we think they are. Any thoughts??

I agree with theseekingpastor & Cheryl – God is sovereign. He allows things to happen. Remember Job – God clearly allowed Satan to bring all kinds of horrible, disastrous things on Job. In the end Job acknowledges the fact “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

In Romans 9 :17 the Bible talks about how God raised up Pharaoh to show His power and so that his Name would be proclaimed in all the earth. Pharaoh was atrocious but God used Pharaoh to glorify Himself.

Judas was a close companion of Jesus, and yet he betrayed Him. When one of the others responded by raising his sword, Jesus said no – “this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”

Awful stuff happens because we’re all sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. A lot of life doesn’t make sense to us. But I’m thankful for verses like Isaiah 55:8,9 where it says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Knowing that God is in control gives me peace. And knowing that I am a lousy, rotten sinner who doesn’t deserve anything but God’s wrath, humbles the heck out of me because God sacrificed his precious Son to take on the punishment I completely deserve. This boggles my mind. And yet, He mercifully extended his grace to me and now only sees Christ’s righteousness instead of my crappy sinful self. Talk about amazing.

Yes, I believe things happen for a reason. Sometimes God chooses to divulge the reason why things happen, but a lot of the time he doesn’t. I admire Paul’s attitude and need to take a lesson from him. In dealing with the “thorn in the flesh” he recognized that God was trying to impress on him that the fact that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So how does Paul respond to this? He wasn’t resentful or bitter, (would I be? I don’t know) what he said was, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Agree Janelle … and I look forward to ‘solving’ … okay maybe just discussing, this issue and many others when we meet :)

Hi Cheryl … thanks for joining in the convo.
I agree that God wasn’t looking the other way when my accident happened, because if he truly is everywhere, that would be impossible.
But I think accidents are what the definition of the word accident is – “any event that happens unexpectedly, without a deliberate plan or cause.”
I don’t know why accidents happen … they simply do and I’ve come to a place where I can live with the mystery of the unknown. (Lord knows, there’s many things I don’t understand or know)
And yes, we have a choice whether to become better, not bitter and since God is love and love redeems, he helps us in that process. And based on the choices we make, good can come out of bad.

Hi Ginny,
Sounds like you are a fellow ponderer … love that! There’s so many things in life that I don’t learn, get or understand, so there’s always something (multiple things) brewing in my brain.
Interesting thought/question. True, the causes might not be that important … when it comes to pain, pain is pain … no matter how you got it or what type it is. But living with pain (in body, mind or spirit) is important in the sense that it can affect every aspect of our world, so that’s why I find it hard to believe there is a reason for it all.
And yes this earthly life might not be what it’s all about, but sometimes I think it has more value then a dress rehearsal (as a popular quote says) When I think about how amazing the earth is with it’s vast galaxies, amazing creation and all the people (and their needs) I do see this life as important (even if it’s a lot less time then eternity) and therefore the pain/joy is real and valid and it’s hard for me to just brush them off as not that important. Still processing this … does it make any sense?

Krista,
You are right “A lot of life doesn’t make sense to us.” and that’s why I have questions and here’s a few more …
Can God be sovereign and yet things could happen that he doesn’t cause and/or there is no reason? Could things happen due to accident, choices (ours or others) and because this is planet earth and things happen here without reason at times?
You mention being a “lousy, rotten sinner” … aren’t you also a valued child of God’s … created in his image? So therefore just as parents shouldn’t cause life-long pain and trauma to their kids, I question why God would do that to anyone he created in his image. Isn’t that like hurting yourself?
Like I said, some more questions I ponder … your thoughts?

There is no doubt too much to say about this issue for a comment on a blog. One of the better recent books about this is Randy Alcorn’s “If God is Good.” Wonderful book that takes high level concepts and puts them in a way that is easy enough for even me to understand.

Janet,
I think that God is sovereign and things happen that he does not directly cause but he permits – just like the example I sited from Job. I do not think that God is a great puppet master. He gives us liberty to make choices in life. At the same time, he is never caught off guard and His ultimate plan is never frustrated by us and what we decide to do.

This morning I was talking to a friend of mine about this discussion. They had a similar discussion in college and her professors had to remind the class that while God is sovereign, until Christ returns, Satan is ruling the earth. We live in a world corrupted by sin and bad things happen.

I agree with you – I am made in God’s image and am his daughter by adoption. Before Adam & Eve disobeyed God, the world wasn’t tainted by sin and it’s ugly consequences. But a direct result of that disobedience resulted in the introduction of pain, misery, etc. So is God causing life-long pain/trauma to his own children? I don’t see it that way. I see Him permitting these things to happen. For what reason(s)? I don’t think we’ll always know for sure. Sometimes to show his strength in our weakness, sometimes to turn our attention to Him, sometimes to test us, sometimes we may not have a clue why. Jesus wasn’t exempt from the trials and persecution while he lived here, and he promised us we’d have to face the same stuff. But he also promised he would leave us the Comforter, and we know that Jesus & the Holy Spirit intercede on our behalf as we wage in the battles of this life.

Ugh….heavy stuff….lot’s to think about…..it’s good to ponder these things, Janet. Thanks for throwing these questions out there. As my 5-yr-old godson says, why is life so complicated? :-)

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[...] Bible verses are quoted. I’m told that I’m a better person now. I’m told everything happens for a reason (If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that, I could have that beach house I dream [...]