Does everything happen for a reason? I would answer that question both yes and no. I answer, "No" to those who mean that no matter what happens, God has a reason for either allowing it to happen, or, as some believe, making it happen.

I answer, "Yes" because there is a cause and effect. The result is the effect, and the reason it happened is the cause. Let me give you an example.

Almost every driver knows that for their car engine to operate properly it needs to have the proper amount of oil. If it runs out of oil, it will ruin the engine. So, if someone's engine gets ruined for a lack of oil, was that just meant to be? Don't things happen for a reason? Yes, and in this case, the reason was a lack of oil.

Hopefully, for that example, most will agree. But let's try another example. I'll stay with the automobile for this next example too.

Suppose you have a flat tire. Was it just meant to be? Everything happens for a reason. But, wait. Someone stops to help you with your flat tire and over the course of the changing of the tire, you say something to that person that really helps them.

Now there are some who will argue that the flat tire happened for a reason. They believe that God had a hand in it. He wanted you to be at a precise location at a precise time so that the other person would stop to help.

With that kind of thinking, we have driven off the road and are now trying to drive in the lagoon. It's a sinking theory. It really challenges the free will that God gave us.

Suppose that you were so upset or distracted with the flat tire that you didn't speak anything to the person helping you with your flat tire, other than, "Thanks for the help." Some people will argue, "Well God knew you were going to speak to them."

Now I know this debate has been around for a long time. And I am certainly not going to try to present a thesis on it in this short article. But regardless of what opinion you have on the subject, ask yourself this question. If God knows what I am going to do, and what I am going to say, then do I have any choice in the matter?

If that is true then everything is meant to be. And perhaps that's the reason why everything happens, it is all just meant to be. And that leaves the door wide open for lots of unaccountability. "There must be a reason why I robbed the store; I guess it was just meant to be!"

Now I truly believe that God can and does get involved in the affairs of man. I also believe that His thoughts and His ways are far beyond the thinking of mortal man. I have seen God work in my life in remarkable ways. I am sure you have too.

I know that God certainly works in individuals on a personal level. His guiding is there. There are times that you just know you should do something, and other times that you shouldn't.

Those who excel at this are those who, wherever they are and whatever they are doing, have a habit of asking God if there is something that they should or could do. I understand all of that.

I just think we need to be careful about what we blame God for. It's all too easy to say, "That flat tire happened for a reason," all the while thinking that it was God Who did it for a reason. If you are speaking on God's behalf, you ought to be really certain that you are accurate!

Let's not throw away the free will that God gave to us. Remember that in all of life we have choices. We can choose to be negative or we can choose to be positive. We can choose to help people or we can choose to ignore them. And we can choose to ask God if there is something special that He would have us do or say.

So, yes, everything does happen for a reason.