Does everything happen for a reason?

from the old testament

• God is sovereign. He has the power to do all things: "Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps" (Psalm 135:6).
• The story of Joseph demonstrates God's divine providence. Only divine providence could have worked out the details to promote Joseph from prison to the second most powerful man in Egypt; Joseph recognized God’s hand in his circumstances (Genesis 50:20).
• The Bible teaches that the law of sowing and reaping causes some circumstances. Proverbs 22:8 says, in part, "Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity."

from the new testament

• The New Testament also teaches the law of sowing and reaping. Galatians 6:7 says, "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Whether people reap the due rewards or consequences of their actions in this life or the next, the Bible says they will receive what is due them (Hebrews 9:27).
• Sometimes the reason behind certain events in our lives is that we live in a fallen world (Romans 8:19–22).
• At times, God brings circumstances into our lives as a form of discipline or testing (Hebrews 12:5–13; Romans 5:1–5; James 1:2–4).
• Both the world and Satan oppose Christ, so sometimes, situations occur because of opposition from others or spiritual warfare (John 17:14; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:10–18).
• A bigger purpose that we cannot know explains some circumstances. When Jesus healed a man blind from birth, He noted that the man was born blind so that God’s glory would be manifested in Jesus healing him (John 9:1–3).

implications for today

Whether it was a first date that led to marriage, an unexpected meeting that generated a job offer, or even a canceled flight to a place that had an earthquake a couple of days later, people like saying, “It was fate!”

But it wasn’t, as Christians well know. God is in control, and nothing surprises Him. He has taught us through His Word that some events occur because of what we’ve done, what others have done to us, what demonic forces are doing, and sometimes, things happen because of the fallen world we’re in. But none of this is “fate.”

God has given us free will, and sometimes, we make the wrong choices. At other times, circumstances are out of our control; we haven’t caused them, and we can’t fix them. But in all circumstances, looking toward God is the solution.