Does Everything Happen for a Reason?

[TexasBaird]

Hello,
It’s been months since I’ve been here (this website) but this thread caught my eye in the email I receive. God coincidence I’ve been going through this in my own life, trying to distinquish God’s will and what’s my will. I could really use some help but feel really uncomfortable about putting this out on the web for all to read.

For what ever it is worth, reading the above threads, I feel the need to post this information that I’ve acquired.
For the death of a loved one I learned that our Wonderful Father is a God of the living not of the dead.(Matthew,Mark and Luke).
We are not dead when we are in heaven. We are very much alive.
What I also learned and I am still learning to this hour. He allows this suffering so that we learn His Mercy and His Love.(I believe this is in the catechism).

 

[Olivermax]

When a five year-old boy develops an excruciating cancer of the right femur - and months later dies of the tumor - what is the reason? Punishment for spitting out his broccoli? Original sin? I don’t see any reason for such a thing to happen to anyone, especially an entirely innnocent child.

When 100,000+ in Indonesia are drowned by a tsumani, what is the reason? “God’s will?”

First of all, everyone who is on this earth will die, and yes, that is God’s will and His decision. You will just have to trust that He had a reason. Perhaps the suffering of the parents will be used by God to save the soul of another child of theirs. Or perhaps it was reparation for their sins.Perhaps it was an extreme mercy of the Lord to take this child while it was still innocent. Perhaps the child would have fallen away from Him and rejected Him if the child had lived to be an adult. With the Tsunami, I noted that Indonesia was hit the hardest of any of the countries. Perhaps many parents in that country sold their daughters to brothels, and this was a warning from God. Or perhaps it was a warning from God to us. Or perhaps it was just those victim’s time to die.

 

[scottyIHM]

I have a slightly different view on this. To say that everything happens “for a reason” implies that every event in this world is solely the result of God’s actions and that he causes it all. As someone else pointed out earlier, that would diminish the impact of our free will. We know that God loves us so much that he will NOT interfere with our free will, which is why evil exists in the first place.

But I DO believe that God works everything into his plan, sometimes causing things to happen (meaning that some things DO happen for a reason) and sometimes simply allowing things to happen (which shows his respect for the free will that He’s given all of us). Keep in mind that time is a parameter of our humanness and does not contain God’s divinity; so even in the case of the things that He allows by virtue or our exercising our free will, He knows what we will choose and what we will do. That was already factored into His plan before he created us. So, in either case, whether by His action or our exercising of our free will, God’s plan works for good to those who love Him.

That said, I prefer to say that, "God has a plan and works EVERYTHING into His plan according to His Divine Mercy, His Divine Wisdom and His Perfect Timing. This is comforting when you consider that it basically says that God’s plan CAN NOT be denied, regardless of what bad decisions we or others may make in our lives. This view of things has allowed me to forgive myself many times; to let go of my guilt and to move on, knowing that God loves me in a very intimate and personal way and that His Mercy has no limits.

Lastly, keep in mind that, while God gives us free will, He also gives us the grace, through faith, prayer and the sacraments, to make the right choices and to exercise our free will as He would like us to. The choice is still ours, but He empowers us to make the right choice and by His grace, we willingly (free will) choose to do the right thing out of love for Him.

I hope this helps. Lord knows it helps me almost every day!

As for the 5 year old mentioned earlier and those killed by the Sunami, it’s not for us to understand. God’s ways are above our own. Why did the innocent Word made flesh, Jesus, have to suffer such a cruel death having committed no crime? The answer is, He didn’t, but that’s what God chose, in His infinite wisdom that we can’t possibly comprehend. I do know that we, as humans often forget that I lives on this earth are but an instant and while these events seem tragic to us, they work in God’s own way, to bring the salvation of souls for eternity. It’s healthy for us to ask “Why?” because that leads us to a deeper understanding of God, but, in the end, we must rely on God’s grace and His gift of faith.

Sorry for the long response.

 

[ilovekittens]

First of all, everyone who is on this earth will die, and yes, that is God’s will and His decision. You will just have to trust that He had a reason. Perhaps the suffering of the parents will be used by God to save the soul of another child of theirs. Or perhaps it was reparation for their sins.Perhaps it was an extreme mercy of the Lord to take this child while it was still innocent. Perhaps the child would have fallen away from Him and rejected Him if the child had lived to be an adult. With the Tsunami, I noted that Indonesia was hit the hardest of any of the countries. Perhaps many parents in that country sold their daughters to brothels, and this was a warning from God. Or perhaps it was a warning from God to us. Or perhaps it was just those victim’s time to die.

I can’t accept this answer. There is absolutely no reason for a 5 year old child to die a horrifically painful and protracted death. The sins of his parents - probably there were none anyway - is no excuse. Nothing, nothing, nothing is gained by the suffering of a child.

 

[scottyIHM]

I really feel your pain and I understand your confusion and bitterness, but we must remember that our lives with God are for ETERNITY. The brief time that we spend here is less than an instant and God brings good, in some way, from ALL tragedy, though we don’t always see it and rarely ever understand it. It may be that this child’s suffering has caused many to turn to prayer, who otherwise would not even think of God. In this way, the child may have been an instrument of God to save other souls. Of course, I don’t know what the real reason is; only God does, but I do know that this little innocent child is in a state of eternal happiness and bliss with Our Father in Heaven. I know this without a doubt because of his youthful innocence.

This probably doesn’t help ease your pain very much, but please have faith that God loves us all in a very personal way and that everything works to His loving plan for the good of each of us, whether we understand it or not (which we usually don’t). Have faith!

 

[rinnie]

Just because People suffer in this world is not saying that it is caused by God. God does not make bad things happen the devil does. I dont believe that we are saying that God makes bad things happen, we are saying that only God can bring good out of bad. And there is a reason for everything. The bible tells you that. Some answers you will get in this world some in the next. And yes some things that are bad are caused for a reason even if it is the devil who caused it. And yes sometimes the reason is evil we are not saying it isnt. But to hurt someone and do harm to someone is the result of a reason. we are not saying the reason is always good.

 

[Mystic_Warrior]

First of all, everyone who is on this earth will die, and yes, that is God’s will and His decision. You will just have to trust that He had a reason. Perhaps the suffering of the parents will be used by God to save the soul of another child of theirs. Or perhaps it was reparation for their sins.Perhaps it was an extreme mercy of the Lord to take this child while it was still innocent. Perhaps the child would have fallen away from Him and rejected Him if the child had lived to be an adult. With the Tsunami, I noted that Indonesia was hit the hardest of any of the countries. Perhaps many parents in that country sold their daughters to brothels, and this was a warning from God. Or perhaps it was a warning from God to us. Or perhaps it was just those victim’s time to die.

I have to go with you on this one.

What if God took the 5 year old boy home early to save him some worse fate later on in life? I think the normal, but wrong thing to ask is “why”? Rather, we should be asking God “how” does he want us to react to this and learn from it.

Peace…

MW

 

[PaulinVA]

With the Tsunami, I noted that Indonesia was hit the hardest of any of the countries. Perhaps many parents in that country sold their daughters to brothels, and this was a warning from God. Or perhaps it was a warning from God to us. Or perhaps it was just those victim’s time to die.

Or perhaps an earthquake occurred deep in the earth, and it caused a tsunami that killed people.

 

[Olivermax]

Or perhaps an earthquake occurred deep in the earth, and it caused a tsunami that killed people.

Well of course an earthquake occurred deep in the earth, but God controls the forces of the earth.

 

[PaulinVA]

Well of course an earthquake occurred deep in the earth, but God controls the forces of the earth.

Oliver, are you saying that God ordains earthquakes to happen at certain times and places?

I know he CAN do that, but are saying that he does?

 

[Olivermax]

Oliver, are you saying that God ordains earthquakes to happen at certain times and places?

I know he CAN do that, but are saying that he does?

Yes, I am saying that. Nothing happens without the permission of God. God is the Lord of History and is ultimately in control. When forces of nature occur, it is to warn or instruct us, or perhaps remind us how fragile and temporary our lives are.

 

[PaulinVA]

Yes, I am saying that. Nothing happens without the permission of God. God is the Lord of History and is ultimately in control. When forces of nature occur, it is to warn or instruct us, or perhaps remind us how fragile and temporary our lives are.

So God created nature and a set of rules that nature follows, and then routinely over rides the rules?

I have a hard time agreeing with that.

 

[Mystic_Warrior]

So God created nature and a set of rules that nature follows, and then routinely over rides the rules?

I have a hard time agreeing with that.

Jesus calmed the seas and wind. He walked on water. He healed people with organic diseases. The list could go on. He overrules when necessary. I don’t think he “routinely” overrides the rules. He does so to fulfill His will and purpose for the people He seeks.

Peace…

MW

 

[scottyIHM]

So God created nature and a set of rules that nature follows, and then routinely over rides the rules?

I have a hard time agreeing with that.

It’s the “rules of nature” that cause the natural catastrophes. God overrides those rules when he saves us from those disasters or alters their impact. Keep in mind that God is omniscient. He knew before the dawn of time all that has happened, is happening, or will happen. He’s not sitting around judging our behaviors and responding with nature. To Him, who is outside of time, everything is as an instant. It’s inaccurate to apply our own limitations of time and space or the limitations of our human intellect and logic in attempting to understand God. To do so makes it impossible to understand, or to accept.

 

[Cara_Serrano]

Only in retrospect.

 

[HNA444]

Jesus calmed the seas and wind. He walked on water. He healed people with organic diseases. The list could go on. He overrules when necessary. I don’t think he “routinely” overrides the rules. He does so to fulfill His will and purpose for the people He seeks.

Peace…

MW

Everything God does is good, so i don’t agree with that He would ever cause something bad to happen.

 

[tonyrey]

Many events happen for no reason whatsoever - apart from the fact that they are the outcome of natural laws essential for life and rational existence. The earthquake in Haiti is a good example of an event not intended by God but permitted because a spate of miracles would defeat the purpose of creating an orderly universe. Many disasters could be avoided if human beings inhabited the safest regions on earth but financial and other interests ensure that is not the case. Mexico City is an example of a far more horrific catastrophe waiting to happen. It is only a question of time…

 

[tonyrey]

The element of chance plays a large part in our lives. Pascal remarked that history would have been different if Cleopatra’s nose had been shorter! The immense complexity of events - taken in conjunction with human choices - seems to rule out precision in God’s plan for each of us but there is plenty of evidence that He does intervene at critical stages in our lives.

On the other hand factors like accidents, illness or poverty may limit our opportunities. Even then a handicap may even prove to be an advantage - as in the case of Beethoven. It is impossible for us to know exactly how far we have succeeded in our vocation but we do know when we have neglected to love others. That is the main purpose we should bear in mind!

 

[vz71]

Everything God does is good, so i don’t agree with that He would ever cause something bad to happen.

Given that the perspective of God is through eternity and our perspective if through the lens of finite time and finite space, it is likely that much of the concept of what we believe is bad may not be so.

When someone dies, they do not cease to be. If this person is judged to be good, they are with God. We may miss them, but is their death really a bad thing?

We are shocked and horrified every day by the various ways we find to die.

But to God, death is not such a permanent thing at all. In fact, it may well be little more relatively speaking then moving from one location to another.

 

[catharina]

First off, my apologies if this thread rehashes old material - please post links to those if it does - but I’ve been tossing this around and none of the free will discussions I’ve seen yet (which have been few, I admit) have directly addressed it.

My question is simple: Does everything happen for a reason?

I hear this a lot, but after pondering it more, I’m wondering if there is an official Catholic stance on this or if it is open to individual interpretation. Of course it feels good to say that yes, everything in life does happen for a reason, but my gut seems to think that that line of thinking would infringe upon human free will. However, some miraculous things also happen in life that don’t appear to have anything to do with free will, so it seems as though there’s a middle ground between God the puppetmaster and God the innocent bystander. I’m just looking for some kind of direction as two where to draw that line, if it’s indeed possible to do so.

A couple of examples:

A random murder happens to a good, holy man. Although his family may learn a lot from this situation and grow from it, it still appears to me to be the product of free will of the murderer and not necessarily attributable to divine intervention. (Perhaps both?)

However, if an airplane flies head-on into the side of a mountain and all passengers survive, this appears to be divine intervention and appears as though God must have a plan for those on board.

I know I’m rambling - I’m not the philosophical type. Just throwing out some rumblings to get some feedback from those of you who are better skilled in this area than I am. Basically, can free will coexist with God having a divine plan in life for each of us? Thanks!

Might this be the Scripture you’re seeking?

from St. Paul to the Romans 8:28
“We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.”

Here God assures us of His loving care, regardless of the circumstances of life.