Facebook Religion Question

Background:

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook(she is not religious). I respect her curiosity whether she believes or not. She is very open minded and opinionated lol. Anyway back on subject:

"OK religious folk...who believe in a god and free will.  

Do you believe God puts situations around you for you to make a choice? Not just saying right/wrong ...just choices. So example... God provided your biological family but ALSO God has created the situation for you to meet the people who become your chosen family, yes? You obviously make those decisions but wouldn't God still have a hand in it? Like..would you say God is responsible for me and you meeting? It was your choice to build the friendship, yeah? Or no?"

So here is my extended thoughts on this:

I had to really think this over to see how I felt on it and what really my thought on it was.

I feel that God has a hand in putting people and situations in our life. I feel that it is our choice on how we react to the people and situations. Here is a little example:

I believe God put my step mom in my life to help me when I did not have a mother figure. I am grateful for that. I also believe that when the goodness was replaced with abuse I believe God placed that situation there also. It was up to me to be grateful for the good and to decide what to do when things went bad.

I also think while I was struggling and getting more and more depressed He placed Terry in my life. Terry gave me a whole new happiness I never had before. Where I could be me and no hiding the dark things in my past and in my current state. I could be me and only me. He gave me a whole new reason to live and a new outlook on life. All while it was not so obvious then we still had the stuggle of me still being in the abusive home. God gave Terry the strength to stay by my side supporting me and helping me get through the abuse.

When the day came where the abuse hit its all new high, Terry was there to protect me and "rescue" me. He was there within minutes to take me away from that place to never bring me back again.

I think God put her in my life for good and bad and when I was not clear on the path I should take He placed Terry there to help me make the right decision.

Mind you I was not a believer while this happened I became a believer after this happened. But I am a believer now and I know in my heart and soul He had a hand in every bit of that experience. He did not tell me what to do he let me make the decision he just placed both road blocks and helping hands for guidance.

So yes I believe he has a hand in our day to day lives and the people he puts in our day to day lives are put there for a reason. After all, ever notice when some stranger says something whether it be to you or just overhearing and it gives you a new perspective or at least ponder their thoughts... I believe that is God doing that.