I do believe that God gives us signs of both encouragement and warning in our lives. I have felt this deeply in my own life. Sadly, there have been times when I deliberately turned away from the signs given because it wasn't how I wanted things to go. In fact, I encountered that just yesterday when cutting down trees. The pain in my leg is a direct consequence of my overall impatience and specific refusal to acknowledge the signs I was receiving.
We often ignore the signs in our lives out of stubbornness, but we sometimes do so out of fear. I've received plenty of signs that I need to embrace a healthier lifestyle, but my fear of the work that it will take often holds me back. Sometimes, we ignore other signs of poor health as though by not acknowledging the problem, we can pretend that it doesn't exist.
I've also missed signs because I was too wrapped up in the business of my own life and problems. Perhaps this is the reason why nearly all philosophies about being more satisfied with life suggest that we slow down and take the time to observe what is happening in the present moment. I suppose that is precisely what the season of Advent is about: taking the time to look at the signs around us.