Because of a reason vs for a reason

When people say "Everything happens for a reason" it sounds like that "reason" is in the future. Is my interpretation wrong?

If not, how do I clearly state that "Everything happens due to cause and effect" in a more simple way? Hence it would stick to people's minds easily.

Clarification on the opening question: People are using it to convey the meaning of "Everything happens for some purpose"

Solution 1:

"Everything happens for a reason" is a saying that implies predetermination, and fatalism. However, the preposition for doesn't necessarily imply a future. It's the connotation behind the saying that implies that an end will have happened because it was fated to.

If you're not a fatalist, and this isn't what you intend to convey, you could say that everything is connected, and every effect must, then, have (or have had) a preceding cause.