Christians, do you believe everything happens for a reason?

Question

Or in other words, whatever happens is of God`s will? If that is so you are making a very general statement (Everything) that applies to any and all situations.

Therefore kids get molested and abused for a reason. Genocides and Atrocites happen for a reason. The fly landed on top of my head for a reason. Not only that but saying that everything happens for a reason takes the stance of "Hard Determinism," which is not compatible with free will. A contradiction to say the least.
Perhaps you don`t believe everything happens for a reason. But, I usually hear Christians subscribing to this train of thought. Is this a fair assessment of the Christian belief? In that everything happens for a reason?

Answer 1

Yes everything happens for a reason and is a part of God's bigger plan.

Answer 2

I believe everything happens for a reason but we do have free will. God already knows the choices we are going to make and everything fits into a specific plan based on the decisions everyone in the world has made or will make from the beginning until the end. Remember, He is everywhere all at the same time. The hairs on your head are numbered. There is a time to die. Your choices can shorten your days.

Answer 3

Everything DOES happen for a reason. What the reason is that is the question and only rational, logical, scientific answers satisfies the sane person.
For example, I reach for the coffee cup on my desk, bump it. It falls to the floor and breaks. I was clumsy when I reached to the cup. Why maybe I’m tied, my arthritis is flaring up, or both. The cup falls to the floor because of gravity. Gravity has enough pull on the cup that the kinetic energy is enough to break the poorly made cup. NO God involved! This is a example for the simple people posting here.

Answer 4

Yes, I believe everything happens for a reason BUT not everything is God's will. He has a perfect will and a permissive will (my belief) Obviously he has control over everything. Say there is someone you marry and they end up beating the dog mess out of you. This person might not have been God's perfect will for your life, but he allowed nothing to stand in the way of you marrying this person because there are some lessons we don't learn any other way. Anyway, it is not his will than anyone should be beaten in a marital relationship (again my opinion).

Now, the fact that this happened is for a REASON---not being patient and waiting for the right person (pray about this)

but his WILL was something else for your life.

GOSH, I hope this was not confusing. Of course it makes perfect sense to me. :)

Answer 5

Not exactly the way you mean it. I believe that God has a perfect Will and a permissive Will (that's where the free choice comes in). When people sin, they are going against God's perfect Will for their lives, but God can still work things together to bring good out of it for His children.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Ultimately God will bring about His plan and purpose, either with our help or in spite of us. We as Christians may miss blessings or even reap consequences of sin in our lives (or create consequences for others) when we fail to allow Him to direct our lives through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The history of His chosen people the children of Israel is a pretty good example of this point--when they obeyed God, He blessed them, when they disobeyed, they had to suffer the consequences. Bad things happen in our world today for the same reason--someone's sin caused it either indirectly or directly, and sometimes innocent people are made to suffer for the sins of others. Even so, God can bring "beauty out of the ashes" and make even the worst circumstances work out for good. This concept is similar to but not exactly the same as saying "everything happens for a reason". It's just a concept that's hard to describe in a few words and this phrase sums it up in a way that makes sense to Christians who understand the big picture (or at least trust that God understands it!)

You are getting into some really deep territory there with God's foreknowledge and omniscience vs. man's free will, so I'm sure you will get some different opinions, but I believe that even though God knows exactly what everyone is going to do before they do it, they still have the choice.

I hope that helps!

Answer 6

I like to believe that there is a greater plan, and that things happen for a reason.

I tell people that I'm a deistic fatalist -- "If I didn't deserve it, God wouldn't let it happen to me." But that's just a joke.

Truthfully, I don't think it's God's will that tens of thousands of people die every day for lack of food or water, that drunk drivers mow down people in the streets, or that we have a billion starving people on this planet -- but some of the best-fed COWS ever seen. (And only a small handful of the population EATS those cows.)

So to answer your question: Personally I think yes, but in a way that we might not completely. understand.

Answer 7

Yes, I believe that everything happens for a reason. That doesn't mean that God causes terrible things happen. Bad things happen because of sin. From a Jesus Freak

Answer 8

Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun that-The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.

Not all events occur for a "reason" per the Bible. However, there are also examples of random or evil events occuring for a hidden and positive reason. Joseph was sold into slavery and later imprisoned, but he stated:
"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." Genesis 50:20

Answer 9

When I was a boy, a crow landed on my head and pooped(true story, my neighbor witness it, lol)
Of course everything happens for a reason, we just aren't able to understand what every reason is. Praise the LORD.

Answer 10

I don't get it, how can you go around saying this stuff? If you don't believe it you don't believe it. But the people that do believe it won't change their opinion.

Maybe God wants us to know that things won't just come to us, and we have to work for it. And me believing that believes that everything really does happen for a reason, make fun of me, and it, all you want.