I have a question that I have been looking answer for for a long time.Does everything bad that happens in our life have a reason? A lot of times people say: oh this happen in my life b/c I must have done something wrong in my previous life.Is EVERY suffering that we experience directed by God & a punishment for our sins? And another question I have. Does God sometimes send people signs to warn them against something?
First, I just want to say “Thanks” for asking tough questions. It can be difficult to ask questions like this and I applaud you for doing it. With regards to your questions, everything in the world happens for a reason. We, in our limited Human ability, only see what we want to see in the physical world. That is only a little piece of the reality. There is a spiritual force driving everything. Every physical object in the world has a power that is behind it. If you had what I call, “Spiritual goggles,” you would be able to see this spiritual dimension. You would see this dimension change based on happens in the physical world and you would see that there is nothing nor nobody that is not connected to this spiritual source.
This “source” originates with the origin of creation: G-d, Himself. The source of the finite is infinite and therefore can control the spiritual and the physical. Since it is a cause and effect reaction between the two worlds this dynamic is constantly being created. What we can easily see, therefore, is that it is our choice as to how connected we are going to be to The Source. Through my actions I decide where I want to put my stock.
Therefore, in conclusion, everything good and bad that happens in our lives is for a reason. We may not always know what that reason is, but it is up to me to be thinking in such a way that I am always trying to perfect myself and getting closer to understanding G-d’s communication with me. Everything in life is a message. We just need to wake up and allow ourselves to see and hear it. Everything that happens to us is directed by the kind of person we are. G-d simply facilitates us seeing our true selves and what we need to experience for self improvement.
Finally, G-d is always sending messages. Every time we pass a flower we have missed an opportunity to bring G-d closer to us. When we do not say thank you for having food on our tables we have missed an opportunity. G-d talks to us all the time. We just need to learn how to tune in. It is possible. You just need the tools.
Be Well,
Rabbi Gershon Litt