Why do people say, "Everything happens for a reason" suggesting that God is behind everything that happens? Every time I hear that, cold chills run through my body. Yes, I suppose everything DOES happen for a reason. And mostly that reason is because of the choices we make in this life. Is God present? Of course He is. And even though He does not cross the barrier of free will, He certainly will create beauty out of whatever it is we have managed to destroy, if we but ask Him.
So, maybe, that is what we are really saying. That when seemingly bad stuff happens, God will manage our brokenness and may even restore to us what we certainly do not deserve. But, for the life of me, I cannot see how a bad decision can translate to "everything happens for a reason." All the while, being said with possibly a slight shrug of the shoulders and a lift in the voice of positive results happening from the negative.
Sorry...I just don't get it. And I do not like it when I hear it. It's almost as fruitless as saying, "It is what it is." There may be a little truth in both these statements, but surely neither can be a conclusive expression. What is the rest of the story? Do we just let things lie, and never question whatever happened "for a reason"?
Could we possibly be a part of the solution? I think maybe (maybe), instead of just accepting whatever happened (because it happened for a reason), we could be the salve for the pain it caused. We could be the safe harbor until the storm passes. We could be the example of Christ's love to those He created. Hey, wait...that would mean ALL of humanity.
Yes, things certainly do happen for a reason. And that reason has to do with mankind and how we view life. It depends on how deep our selfishness runs; our need to have things the way we want them. The need to eliminate conflict, so our lives are "peaceful". It depends on how deep our faith runs. How deep our convictions run, and how willing we are to be selfless, preferring others above ourselves. It's a tall order, I know. I have failed many times but God has always kept me afloat, so-to-speak. Never letting me drown in my own thoughtless comments and actions. Always there to piece me back together and love me regardless of the pain I may have caused others. And hopefully the battle-worn have been restored as well.
It's my conviction that God is not behind everything (especially the horribly wrong things) that happen by way of our own doing. Yes, yes, I know. "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." ~Job 1:20-22
What we must realize, is that it was not by Job's hands his whole family was taken from him. He was declaring his own faithfulness to the One who gave him life. It was a declaration of ownership. God's ownership, and what we have, or do not have. Job had worked hard all his life and had much to show for it, but then tragedy struck outside of Job's choices. Thus, "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away." Here's a side note for you...read all of the book of Job, and your problems will seem non-existent. The 42 chapters will keep you busy for awhile, but in the end, God restored everything Job had acquired, two times over. God blessed his latter days more than the beginning...and Job died a very old man.
How Job became a part of this post, I couldn't tell you. He just wandered through my brain cells as I typed. Anyway...
I exist by God's designing reason, but mostly things happen (or don't happen) to me because of my own actions, and they may or may not, bring glory to my Heavenly Father...here, in Mary's World.
