What do people mean when they say "everything happens for a reason"?

Question

Do people who say this think there is a God or higher being controlling what happens to them?
And what kind of reasons are they talking about?

Your grandmother died so you would inherit a lot of money and your life would turn around, or
she died because she was old?

Answer 1

More accurately would be "there is a series of causes and effects to every event"

One event causes another and that one causes another effect and so on... you know, a chain reaction. Eventually, it will come down to, for example, your grandmother dying and you recieving a big inheritance. But if you say she died for that reason, first of all, she would have to be born for that to happen, in order that she could have one of your parents and that one of your parents could have you. So that eventually when you are born, she can rest assured that you will have the money. Sounds completely mad, to be honest...

Cause and effect, however, is a bit different. It's simpler. Gran is born - mother is born - you are born. the cause of your mother being born is your grans married life, and the effect that has is that it gives you the possibility of being born.

As for the inheritance, she might have had money stashed away, leaving your mother and yourself to lead an average financial life. Which means you can get in a tight fit if you don't know how to handle that tiny amount of money. She left the money to you in her testament and just died. CAUSE of old age.

Answer 2

I say it because every obstacle in your life good or bad is there for a reason. Mfor example. you have a job but you want a better job that pays more, closer to home, and makes you use your brain. You ace the interview only to find you didn't get the position. I say it happened for a reason because either you wne about getting the job without the Lords help, the timing may not have been right, or the Lord has better in store for you, and in his time he will give you what you need.

Answer 3

What we mean is that nothing happens by accident or happenstance. It's all by design. God's design. Many things only God Himself knows why, and we will find out when this is all over. There actually is no such thing as "luck" or "fate" or "coincidence".

Answering your grandmother question - the answer would probably be "yes" to both parts of it. God decided it was time to take your grandmother home to Him, and you are inheriting her money - He is giving you an opportunity to do something positive with that money and your life in general.

Answer 4

They aren't talking about the cause of death, they are saying there is a master plan. They are saying that because they see no reason, there must be a higher intelligence that does, otherwise it would be too cruel for things to just happen the way they do.
Surprisingly, none of them think that such a being that requires pain and suffering on such a large scale for their plan to work must be insane.

Answer 5

NEITHER-- She died probuly because her time was up honey. You just got lucky you were in her will and she still had some money left for you. YES there is a god, But you write your own book of life before your ever born.

Answer 6

People say it to "feel" better about our lack of control of the events that happen in the world. Although most people who believe in a god do think he/she/it is controlling what happens, and that their god prefers them and their "kind" more than any other human being. If I believe in a god that created every human being, I'm an egoist to believe I'm more important than you to the creator.

My Grandmother died because that's the cycle of life...birth, growth, death. Do tree's loose their leaves in the fall because we need more exercise (removing the leaves from our yards) before our winter "rest"?

Answer 7

i believe that. i don't believe it's because a god is controlling things, it's more like it's the natural balance of the world.

for example last year i had a great job that i had to commute to. i put my house up for sale to move closer to my work. i loved my house, but couldn't pass up the job. my house didn't sell. there was no reason why it didn't, it's a great house, great location, great price etc, but didn't sell. anyway, since it didn't sell, i couldn't stay at the job, so the owner put it up for sale. someone bought it who just happened to own another store in my home town and transfered me there! now i am still in my house that i love and can walk to work!

so that was the reason that my house didn't sell

sometimes it takes a very long time for you to see the reasons that something happened, but it's always there, you just have to look.

Answer 8

I don't think that they're necessarily referring to God. When I hear it, I think they're trying to say that a lesson can be learned out of every situation. You can learn from something whether it's a celebration or a tragedy. Life is a constant learning experience.

Answer 9

The death didn't happen so money could be inherited, but because the body quit functioning. But this was caused by something, maybe a heart attack, and this was caused by something, maybe a poor diet, which ... . But I believe God allows things to happen for reasons to test our faith and make us stronger. He may prolong a life for a reason.

Answer 10

They are speaking about fate, either literally or poetically.

Basically "everything happens for a reason" means there are no coincidences, etc and that everything is predestined. It would also mean that there is no such thing as free will.