Fatalism

Fatalism is the mistaken idea that an impersonal force defines what happens, and we humans are powerless to change things because they are unavoidable. It denies the benevolence of God’s providence.

'it just happened' idea of chance, and reject fatalism and godless determinism instead trust a wise, holy, good and sovereign God who has control of every detail of life (Mt 10:29,30). The Bible teaches that God has a purpose and is working all things out according to His own will and purpose and neither does or permits anything except what serves His purpose (Ps 33:11; Prov 19:21; Isa 14:24, 46:10; Dan 4:35; Eph 1:11). This doctrine of predestination includes our individual lives too, with “all things working out for the good of those who love Him…For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil His good  purpose (Rom 8:28; Phil 2:13). God is the sovereign of the world, the One who does all things as He wills. Although the Bible teaches, our times are ‘in His hands’ and the heart of the king was in God’s hands, we have, by our decisions and choices a huge impact on what we experience (Ps 31:15; Prov 16:1-9, 21:1).

All of life’s circumstances are under His control, although they may not originate with Him. Satan is able to orchestrate events too, but these must be ‘approved’ by God. Climatic conditions and major calamities should convince mankind that we are impotent in many areas, and may be a wakeup call for men and women to seek God while He may be found (1 Chr 28:9; Isa 55:6; Jer 29:13).

Predestination does not exclude free will, yet God governs our voluntary choices by either restricting our desire for evil, or regenerating our hearts and changing our wills that we voluntarily do good. God never forces us to do evil against our will, or good against our will but through His foreknowledge knows our choice before we make it.

See also: chance, choice, disaster, foreknowledge, free will, luck, prayer, predestination, providence, sovereignty of God.