What I find interesting is the seasons in life we don't have such a grasp on this.
Our Creator has unending love for us. He cares about the little things and the big things. He cares about our hopes, dreams, sadness and irritations.
From time to time I can exclude God from all of these things and feel I don't need Him or that I won't bother Him. The next stage is that those areas start consuming my time and thoughts, and I start to lose sight of His unfailing love and care for me. Struggling daily with niggling unrest.
Sometimes we invite God into these areas and then personally try to control the outcome, therefore pushing God's will for us out the side. Alternatively perhaps we ask Him into the situation and then expect a particular outcome, disappointed when He doesn't comply with our expectations.
In August 2011, south of Brisbane, a house fire broke out in the early morning hours, destroying a home with lives lost in the blaze.
How do these families see God's Love through the ashes and remains of their loved ones?
As hundreds of mourners gathered outside the charred house where 11 people from the same extended family perished in the fire, one woman's prayers summed up the grief: "There is nothing we can do, nothing we can say. Lord give us the strength to face tomorrow," she cried.
God understands this grief. Nowhere in the Bible does He promise that you will never feel this level of sadness, that you will never face turmoil, trials or suffering.
In fact the opposite is true. He says you WILL face trials and suffering. John 16:33 states, "In this world you will have trouble." He does promise to walk it with you though.
I believe the woman who prayed this prayer, through her distress, understood this. Blaming God could be a very normal response. In my life, God whispers "I am here. Grab hold of me and I will give you the strength to carry on". This is His promise, all throughout the Bible.
Mr Lee was one of a handful of relatives and friends of the victims who had kept a vigil at the scene, "Something good is coming out of this, everybody from both communities on Tonga and Samoa are helping each other and supporting each other." "That's not always the case here but this dreadful thing has brought us all together.''
Ms Taufa also spoke of her family's pain, "The journey ahead is going to be a long one, but with faith in God we will get through this," she said.
During our lifetime, there are many "ups" and "downs". Not only these bumps, but major catastrophes that demand huge emotional response and ongoing heartache and pain that rear its head in our lives consequently.
Paul prayed for the Ephesians:
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! (Ephesians 3:16-21).
God's timing is not our timing; his ways are not our ways. Grasping this through all seasons of life is important in the journey of life.
Belinda Scotland is from the Sunshine Coast, QLD. She has a heart and passion for God, mission and social justice. Currently Belinda is the Manager of a Swim School and serving her local community.