Do Things Happen for a Reason?
Do you believe things happen for a reason? I do. More often than not, when something happens in my life, it isn’t long before I can see why. And when I undertand the reason why something happened – whether that “something” was good or bad – I get a sense that God has a hand in my life, or that a synchronistic energy is at work, or some power is putting events into place quite consciously with my highest good in mind. Let me give you some examples.
When I was in my late mid-20s, I had a job working in New York City. My boss knew I liked horses and offered to send me to a work-related seminar in Arizona that was being held at a dude ranch. He figured I’d enjoy a chance to go horseback riding. There I hit it off with both the workshop leaders. One of them offered me a job in Oklahoma. My friends and family thought I was crazy to take it. I felt it was the right thing for me to do. I felt claustrophobic and relished the idea of wide open spaces. Not only did I make some great friends there, I met my husband as well. And I learned some skills I was able to use in later jobs. The job only lasted a year. My marriage has lasted 20.
A few years ago, I got involved training horses. I’ve always loved horses, and I’ve ridden most of my life. I always thought I wanted to be a horse trainer, and I began doing just that. However, I discovered that working with horses as a business was much different than doing it for pleasure. And an investment I made in saving a race horse from slaughter then went south. I purchased him to train and resell, and had him sold, but before I could get him out the door he got sick and never totally recovered. I had to put him down and ended up heartbroken and in debt.
For a long time I wondered why that had happened to me. That experience made me look at the fact that during that period of time I had strayed from my true purpose in life-writing and helping people through my writing-almost totally. So, I left the horses behind and turned to writing and pursuing my dream of becoming a published author almost full time. (I know one day I’ll ride again simply for pleasure.) If my venture into the horse business had been successful, I might not be where I am today with my writing career.
More recently, I had the task of finding a sublet in New York City for seven weeks. My son will be attending a summer dance intensive there, and he and I need somewhere to live while I chaperone him. I looked at quite a few apartments via the Internet, trying to find the best deal we could. I found a lovely lady with a studio in the Village, but it was still a bit pricey. I kept looking for something cheaper as I negotiated with her, but I soon found that the cheaper ones worried me; they felt like they might be scams. I had visions of wiring money and then arriving in New York only to discover my son and I had nowhere to live. I was desperate to just find some place to stay that I could afford; the apartment hunting was stressful and time consuming.
All the while, this woman with the Village studio and I kept conversing via email, and I kept feeling that I should stay in her apartment. She was reputable; I could even find her on LinkedIn. So, I agreed to wire her the money. Since then, she and I have started to become friends. She’s read some of my writing and perused the store on my website. I’ve listened to her music and listened to an account of a spiritual experience she had. We both agree we feel as if my son and I were meant to stay in her home and that she and I are destined to become friends.
Just last month I spent about four weeks in a trial period for an online writing job. This came at an inopportune time, and I found it stressful even though I really wanted the job. I thought it would be a decent income and good exposure for me as a writer. However, I had a few doubts about whether the pay would be worth the money. I struggled through the trial period only to be told I had not been chosen for the job. I shrugged my shoulders and thought, “It’s probably for the best. And who knows what else will come along.”
Well, that same day an old friend contacted me via email. He wanted me to write about his new venture in my Examiner.com column. When I read his press release, I got excited. I replied to his email asking if there were anyway I might get involved. The answer was a resounding, “Yes.” And I’m now involved with his project. While this project may not necessarily involve writing per se, it allows me a whole new platform from which to work and it allows me to serve others in a whole new way…a much bigger and more effective way than I could have with the other business opportunity. And, I get to do this with a friend.
I could give you more examples, but I’d rather hear yours. Do you believe things happen for a reason, and can you relate some examples that prove this to be true? How does it make you feel? Can you feel God’s hand in your life? Leave me a comment, and let me know.
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May 7th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I used to believe that things happen for a reason, and I still do. It’s just that most of the time I can never find the reason. I’ve believed this for a long time. I still want to believe it, but like i said, I can never find the reason of why what had happened, happen. Like I said, I still believe but I might start doubting it. Remember, things happen for a reason!!
March 6th, 2010 at 9:13 am
can you please help!!i wantt to know why the person i love alot moved away??wats the reason for that!!!cus i love him and im crying everytime!!nd i feel lyk dieing if im not with him!!hes my first love and hes gone forever!!and he still loves me too!but he had to move!!but i want to know what was the reason for that and will i ever see him again!!cus no one understands how i feel!!!but everyone keeps telling things happend for a reason!!:’(
March 17th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
I’m sorry you feel so sad, Brenda. Usually we don’t know the reason for something like this happening until later. That’s why they say hindsight is 20-20. All you can do now is trust that God has a plan…have faith and be open to seeing what new things (or relationships) open up for you in the future. Good luck!
August 8th, 2010 at 7:14 am
I hope things happen for a reason. In one instance in my life, I had an unexpected health crisis, which forced me to leave my job and move out of the city that I was living in to move back in with my parents – temporarily, of course, while I recovered. The funny thing about this event is that I had thought for some time about moving closer to my family. A nice beachfront town, close to my family, who I missed very much, as opposed to the smoggy city in which I lived seemed very enticing. But I never could actually go through with it. So this health crisis forced me to move. And as a result, I’ve gone to graduate school, found a fabulous job as a college professor, and I am now living 20 minutes away from my family, by the beach, in my own apartment (w/o the price tag of urban rent). I can honestly say this has worked out for the best.
Now finding a husband…well that is a different kind of serendipity. I guess ? I’m hopeful that I’m still single because something good is in the works.
August 18th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
I am sure that even the relationship will work out for you as it is supposed to, but God’s hand surely was in your life…and has been. Thanks for your comment and or reading my blog.
March 14th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Hi, I’m currently in my third (and final) year at Coventry University. I’ve just got back the marks for my dissertation. It was 43% which was just scraping a pass. I spent a lot of time and effort on writing it (6,950 words). I don’t mind writing, but as I’ve gone through the years on the course, I’ve realised that writing wasn’t my passion. Yet I’m very surprised by the grade. It’s my lowest from the three year course, and I don’t know why. My dad died of a massive heart attack just as I was starting to write it in December last year, and maybe that hindered my writing.
Anyway, I’ve also lost a cast member in the play I was directing (Othello), he just said he couldn’t do it anymore. I just don’t know why all of this is happening right now.
March 15th, 2011 at 6:06 am
I can’t tell you why these things are happening, and you may not know for a while. That’s why they say hindsight is 20-20. Just rest assured there is a reason…have faith. Look for the lessons, for the ways you are getting stronger, for messages…One day you will understand.
July 26th, 2011 at 3:33 am
I am slightly dazed and confused because I feel like things happen for a reason. I mean I get all of these signs pointing to this person or direction and when I go there it doesn’t happen. I don’t get it. It is so confusing and weird. I mean I get signs that Michae unstable relationship on and off for three years l is the one and it makes sense then I meet my Doctor and gotten the signs and he tries to seduced me in the patient’s room. He was so attracted to me but he is no longer my doctor since he is now offically a doctor and gotten a real job at a different hospital. He hasn’t been pursuing me or responded to my last email. I swear before I met him I got a tarot card reading and one of the cards says KNIGHT OF PENTACLES and my question was if I will meet another and better man than Michael and this card shows up. I didn’t understand. When I saw the knight he was strong, handsome, powerful, serious, kind, talented and had a very huge mission. I wonder who he was. A week later I then met my young doctor and he was the knight of pentacles that made me realized that I am worthy and can attract someone better and decent. He has a huge mission which is transforming people’s lives by changing their appearances and reconstructing people’s appearances from accidents and birth defects. That is a huge complex mission he has. But nothing happened between us because he met me while he was getting serious with another woman in LA who now lives in NYC and is living with him. I am sure they will get married soon.
I don’t get it…I guess it is all about timing. I am so confused. I really hope I will find what I am looking for and live the life that I want. Why do these things happen and signs are strong and then nothing? I now start to think that I was meant to meet my young doctor for a reason and he has helped me pulled myself together and maybe in the future we will be friends? Who knows…
July 26th, 2011 at 3:36 am
I forgot to mention that my friend is a physic and she says that she had a dream that she was at my wedding and the man I married was him. Interesting…it creeped me out since a lot of her dreams come true. It may not be him but similar? Strange…
August 25th, 2011 at 1:23 am
Alison,
More often than not we cannot know in the moment why things are happening. Sometimes it takes hindsight to really see how the plan works. I find I must just trust.