Friday, June 23, 2006

Everything Happens for a Reason...

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." Ecc. 3:1-8

Ecc. 3:1 is my favorite verse in the Bible, it has been for a while now--since back in the day when I was reading from a New King James version and it sounded a little something like this, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." While this verse is dear to my heart, over the past two days I've encountered these verses three times in very different situations. The first time was yesterday while, of all things, I was watching the movie Footloose and Kevin Bacon quoted those verses. The second was last night while I was reading I Gave Dating a Chance. The third was earlier when I checked my comments on Myspace, someone had left a comment that was an icon which read, "Everything happens for a reason." So, it is possible that God is trying to tell me that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON? I think so! While, I'm not quite sure yet why He is showing me this, I have a feeling that I'm going to find out really soon. Whatever it is, I'm just saying "yes" to God because He "is able to do IMMEASURABLY more than ALL we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," (Eph. 3:20). On that note, I'm out like the Tigers in College World Series. :-(

12 comments:

Unknown said...

i like this alot.

Anonymous said...

"Everything Happens for a reason" is conventional wisdom which is used a lot to rationalize every and anything. And although it is very true because God planned our days before we were born (Ps. 139:16), it however is only marking the surface of the biblical truth.

In Rom. 8:28, Paul explains, "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." In other words, to A BELIEVER, not only does everything happen for a reason, it happens for an ultimately good reason.

Wow! What an incentive to accept Christ as my savior; that all my trials, problems lead to my Joy (James 1:2). It is just sad that such a marvelous revelation is substituted for commonly used conventional statements such as "Everything Happens for a reason".

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this. It is true inspiration when I needed it. Are Here the Lord speak through your blog. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

You're right, "Everything happens for a reason" is often thrown around without even considering the real meaning of the phrase. I'm actually one of those wierd people that comtemplates even the smallest things that people say, for hours.
I've often considered this phrase, and studied about what God has told us to back it up.
God planned our lives, our years, our destinations just as he created the earth, moon and stars. We have all only been a part of his plan since forever. God is so amazing!! He crafted our lives according to what He knew was best, before our great great great great great grandparents were born! It's so incredible to know how much work and time He spent on ME! And on you, and on Michael Jackson, even!
He knows exactly what He's doing, and it's amazing to know that everything will and does work out for good for those that follow Him. It's encouraging to know that you'll always win the battle with him on your side.
Hope I Helped :)

Anonymous said...

i need help with this! I used to believe that everything happens for a reason but a friend of mine has been going through some problems and it just seems like there is no reason for it.

Her mom is trying to take her brother and sister away and she is a horrible mother, she already lost custody of her other two kids. How is there a reason for this?! Not just that but that got me thinking of all the other injustices in this world.

I know why there is pain and evil in this world, because of free will and w/o evil there can't be good but what is the reason and how does this work together for a good reason since she is a christian.... it just doesn't make sense?!

Anonymous said...

This could work out for the better. This is a long post but please I believe it will help!!!!!!! I too have often wondered why things happen to people who seem so righteous. If the mother was to be successful in being an absolute jerk and tearing them apart, God could use the void and hole formed, because of the break up, by filling it with His WISDOM, in which case your friend would now be very capable of using in order to reach out to others in the same situation, and bringing them to Christ. Your friend has much power and I encourage you to remind her of this, because nothing is ever put on us that is stronger than the GOD in you, so you must remember that in your trials. Romans 8:31 if God is for us who can be against us. Isaiah 54:17 no weopon formed against you shall prosper every tounge raised against you in judgement you shall condemn. These are the benefits of those who serve GOD. Please remember God HAS a divine purpose not HAD. He will always come through for his righteous servents. ROMANS 8:28 God works in favor of the righteous. Whether it is in the way we want or not, it is in the way it must and should be. I pray for the situation and I hope this helped. Please remember if not for trials and tribulations that all MUST go through, some different than others, we would not grow to be the strong women and men of GOD we are willed to be. An ex drug addict can reach out to a drug addict much easier than someone who has never been tempted with drugs. Testemonies are powerful! God BLESS you and do not feel bad for having such questions. if this trial and tribulation had not come to your attention than you may never have grown in the understanding or knowledge of...WHY? See how it even works for others around them even when they dont know it is. GOD BLESS put your trust in him and cast all you cares and everything that concerns you on HIM 1 Peter 5:7.

Anonymous said...

i put once on facebook "everything happens for a reason"

Tony said...

I don't think everything happens for a reason.

The verse quoted here doesn't exactly say that and I think it often gets misused. We don't live in a perfect world (yet - that's later).

I believe God has control over things and causes some things to happen, yes. Does God promise everything will be perfect? No.

Referring to Romans 8:28, a bad thing can happen and then work for good, right? Sure. That's the hope we have and if we didn't have that, life would be really tough.

I just believe that we're living in a world that's not perfect, so how can we expect perfection? Things made by imperfect beings are not perfect things.

I think the Bible would have cleared a lot of things up if these two word would have been included somewhere: "Stuff happens."

(If you've seen "Forrest Gump" you know which phrase I'm actually referring to.)

I think twisting a verse in the Bible to say that when you believe in God, your life will be perfect is not true and should not be used as a "selling point." Bad things will happen but you have help. God promises to be there - the Holy Spirit is our comforter. I don't think Paul wrote it that way to mean that, either. The verses right before verse 28 explain how the Spirit helps us.

I like the Amplified version better:

"We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose."

The end game is what is good. The final, net result is good. That's the goal and where we will get. Before then, there will be some bumps in the road. If we love God, good things will come - not everything will be good though.

How can everything be planned and be for a reason in this world? God does intervene a lot, sure. Is our every movement determined by God? No. We have free will. If I pick up a pen and drop it on my desk, is that for a true reason? No. I just did it for no reason. I chose to do it. That's free will. If we did not have free will, then how could we really love God? True love comes from free will. God wouldn't have it any other way. He wants true love from us.

-TH

Anonymous said...

My boyfriends mother passed away two years ago, in a car accident that his sister was in as well, and survived. As this time of year rolls around, they are reminded of her not being able to be there with them. And although it is hard, I really do believe that everything happens for a reason! Thanks for the post. It was very inspiring and assuring!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the inspiration, you really helped to answer my question.

Lou said...

Awesome word tony!

Love4Love Ministry said...

Tony
This scripture does not say anything about giving up our free will, God arranges everything in our life around our faith in Him. We will never see the big picture. Dropping your pin is not the same as dropping your faith in Him. God's true worshipers worship in Spirit and truth. Dropping your pin by choice does not have to do with your faith in God or your Spirit of truth of who you truly are. If you only rely on yourself for making your path straight I am sure after a while you will understand more in surrendering yourself to Him. When we acknowledge him in all our ways he truly does make our path straight, smooth and beautiful, we make our paths crooked, with pot holes when we do not trust in Him, what happens in our life should always bring us closer to Him, this is what this scripture means, not that our lives are perfect, He is and when we trust in Him He can turn a bad thing into good by us trusting Him, his plans, his direction, his love and we will always be closer to Him. We will never know the answers to why he allows bad things to happen, they have been happening since the beginning of time, we have faith in Him and rejoice because we have been given a chance to be closer to Him in a more estimate way, for Him to change our sorrow into joy. God has allowed me to see many sufferings and some grow in faith in Him and some don't, the ones that do I want to imitate, those are the ones he is using for His purpose. We choose to stay in our sorrow when we do not have faith in Him bringing everything that happens in life his purpose of making himself known. Everything dealing with our lives that has consequences with our Spirit happens for a reason to get closer to Him so He can complete His purpose in our lives!It is always our choice to have faith in Him, He is almighty God and is control of everything to bring us closer to Him through faith whether you choose to have faith in Him or not is always going to be your choice.