Is it destined?

"Is it destined?" is a question that I have been thinking about lately.

If God has known it all and if He has a plan for everything, how can I strive a balance between putting my own effort and letting God control?

Maybe because of all the incidents that I have encountered, witnessed, and experienced these days or this year, including but not limited to, 311 earthquake in Japan, passing of Catherine, volunteering in Cambodia, fights with good friends, sudden vanishment of a "friendship", start and ending of friends' love relationships, and possible passing of my uncle, I feel more deeply about the vulnerability of life. How unpredictable and vulnerable lives are. Maybe all these lead me to make "softer" choices which are more oriented to people, and even my family. I feel like I am not as competitive as before, or to be precise, I do not desire or require myself to be as competitive as I used to.

What in life do I really need to strive for? Is it not the favor of God? Certainly it is. I ask for the favor of God, but not of men. I guess I don't really have the answer to my question above as to how I can make a balance. But I guess, I will keep trying to do my best and accept my work and limitations. Leave all my worries, desires, and feelings to Him and let Him handle.

GET this life that is full of abundant blessings.