EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON
E V E R Y T H I N G H A P P E N S F O R A R E A S O N -
Beirut, Lebanon
2, November 2024
Palig Dawidian
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Does everything happen for a reason? Yes.
Every question about purpose leads back to understanding who God is. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, holy, just, loving, merciful, gracious, faithful, unchanging, sovereign, wise, and good. In His nature, we find the assurance that nothing is random or without meaning because He sees the full picture. His perspective is not limited to our immediate understanding. This is why some things happen beyond our grasp but have a reason that may only be revealed over time or from an eternal view. This truth suggests that every part of life, including struggles, joys, and seemingly random events, fits within His wise and sovereign purpose.
Yet this is not to be mistaken for predetermination. God created us with free will, and our actions have real consequences. While He is sovereign, meaning He has ultimate authority over all, this doesn’t mean He directly causes every event, especially those shaped by human choices. There’s a distinction between what God directly causes and what He permits. Where He allows things to happen, even if they aren’t His ideal (such as human sin), because He has given humanity the freedom to choose, we are not predetermined. By allowing these events, God still remains in control, using even the negative or unintended consequences for His ultimate purpose, for His predestinations. A key biblical topic is that God redeems and uses everything and everyone, good, bad, or seemingly random for His holy, just, loving, merciful, gracious, faithful, wise and good purposes.
You might notice that I’ve used the phrase “seemingly random” multiple times. It’s important to acknowledge why these events might appear random to us, yet are far more profound than our immediate understanding. We often fail to recognize the significance of God as “our Father in heaven and not just “my father in heaven.” This distinction highlights that our lives do not revolve solely around our individual experiences. Instead, God’s purpose encompasses a collective plan that goes beyond our personal narratives. Thus, in thinking that every purpose must make sense to us individually, we miss the point. This leads me to another key biblical concept: collectivism or community. This perspective allows us to see that even the most “random” wether confusing or painful experiences, may serve a greater purpose in the collective narrative of God's kingdom.
God’s sovereignty over our situations, or “everything happening for a reason” can manifest even in the simplest of moments of our everyday life, like a girl (me) driving through the hectic streets of Lebanon while my mom faithfully prays for my protection and always reminds me not to give rides to strangers haha! On those drives, I sometimes throw out random funny reactions that make a stranger smile or letting another car pass in front of me or even stopping for someone to cross the street where they shouldn’t be crossing! There are days, though, when I don’t want to smile or give way; in fact, I want to scream at the chaos around me. Yet I have a choice: I can either join the frustration of the crowd or respond with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That laugh, that car I let pass before me, that person I let cross the street when I could that might’ve been just what that stranger needed today, (or not). I might never know if my gestures brightened their mood or lightened their burdens, and I’m not supposed to know or understand every impact I make or every reason. What I am called to do though is to believe in the sovereingty and goodness of God and walk by faith in Christ.
I gave a simple example of driving from the comfort of my car, but what if something goes left. I hit something or get into an accident? How can I still believe there’s a reason behind it that works for good? Well, I understand that I don’t need to comprehend everything; I just need to believe, and if He says it I believe it. “I am only human” I used to say as I failed to trust God until I learned not to rely on my fleeting feelings or limited understanding. Life can be unpredictable, but my foundation is firm in Christ. I refuse to be misled by misinterpretations of prosperity. True prosperity, according to Scripture, isn’t merely about material wealth. It’s rooted in alignment with God’s purposes, experiencing His eternal peace and comfort that exceeds feelings, and encourages growth in faith.
God invites us to be vessels of His love (the kind of love that is the sacrifical death of Jesus), and through our choices, whether to smile, laugh, or simply extend kindness, we reflect His character in a broken world. Every moment holds potential for grace and connection, reminding us that we are part of a larger pattern where God orchestrates every thread for His glory and our growth in Him. In God’s kingdom, nothing is wasted.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
Revelation 22:13