Everything DOES NOT Happen for a Reason

Does everything “happen for a reason?”  It assumes a Higher Being began spinning into motion--and then ordained--every event that befalls us for His purpose.  It’s cliche and is often used as a phrase to bring comfort in tragedy.  However, I would surmise that very rarely do those words bring comfort.  

“Everything happens for a reason” is biblical, right?  Not exactly.  Often Romans 8:28 is quoted and interpreted as such but let’s take a closer look.  The New International Version reads like this: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.”  No matter what happens, God WILL take it and make it work out for us, but don’t twist this verse and imply God chose to bring a tragic event to pass.  

Would a loving God Who sent His Son to die for us so that we might live the “abundant life” (John 10:10) be the cause of famine, natural disaster, the holocaust, incest, death of a child, victimization, and abuse?  Absolutely not.  Can He prevent such horrific events and, if so, why doesn’t He?  Because of His absolute love, there is freedom.  Because of our freedom and resulting sin, this world is broken.  I like the words of James Preston, “Man chose to go his own way, and the consequence of that was dramatic. The world broke. We now live on a planet that is afflicted with disease and tragedy not because God is causing these things to happen, but because we, in our disobedience in the Garden of Eden, caused the planet to go into a frustration. A brokenness. And now, this planet is crying out for its liberation. To return back to its original plan of perfection.”  Since Adam and Eve, the world has never been the same.  

Let us not curse or blame our Father God but, rather, look at ourselves and our sin.  Because of sin, there is drunkenness that causes the fatal car accident.  Because of sin, Hitler’s mind was warped and millions of Jews were murdered.  Because of sin, our planet is no longer the perpetual Garden of Eden and tornados, hurricanes, and tsunamis destroy land and lives.  Again from Preston, “The reality is, bad things do happen in this world. But God isn't pleased when these things happen, let alone causing them to happen! Not everything happens for a reason. God does not cause tragedies. They happen because we live in a fallen world, and He weeps with us.”  

Not only can we be assured “that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,” but what has been lost, destroyed, and broken can be totally renewed!  Joel 2:25 states, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.”  This is not only literally referring to Israel’s crops of old but can be applied to us today.  Although we must live with the consequences of sin, when there is repentance God brings abundant blessing that more than compensates for what was lost.  Only God’s grace can take what is broken and restore it with new life.

The next time you are about to hastily say “Everything happens for a reason” to that one who is walking through what seems to be the very shadow of death, might I encourage you to instead simply remind them if they draw near to God, He will draw near to them (James 4:8).