God knows everything about everything past present and future even all thoughts in everyone and all choices we make. So therefore since he gives us free will any choice we make would essentially be his will. When bad things happen to some others will be stronger even those who have bad things to happen to them can become stronger or better. None of us will ever know his plan or even if he has a plan so stating it was his plan would be just something that churches have have engrained in us. I imagine churches use that as a way to get their followers to get past bad things that happen. My entire original family is dead and I am still alive, I have to believe there is a reason for that other than just dumb luck.