How have you proceeded to develop your relationship with God and enhance your sense of His presence – is meditation the central method or other means?
This has been a very, very long journey. Having been grounded by a chronic illness (fibromyalgia) I have had a great deal of time and inclination to go deeply into spiritual practice. In addtion, I allowed myself to ask questions of faith and to not be afraid of the answers, nor to be afraid of there not being any answers. I can point to books and spiritual practices (see Resources) However, each person needs to “carry their own cross,” i.e. live one’s own indivitual life with all your own foibles and frustrations.
Basically it is a matter of leaning into one’s life just as it is, stripped of illusions as best one can. Secondly and simultaneously, repeat the Jesus Prayer “Lord, Have Mercy on Me a Sinner”
This description of the Jesus Prayer
thesoulpurposedotorg 
It.s a matter of discernment. This prayer speaks to in inner reality that can only be known through the spiritual discipline of meditative prayer. Over time, usually years of time, this reality, the presence of God within us, becomes so powerful in our awareness, that outer circumstances can.t destroy this inner joy.
However, we have to deal with all that life brings with all of the strength and wisdom available to us. This prayer is a call to daily practice of remembering to sit in God.s presence . be that through reading scripture, prayer, guided meditation. (Soon I will have a section of resources on prayer on this website.)
Simply put, do everything you can to do what is right and needed in the circumstances of life, and then sit back and remember that God is in it all.
If your house is flooding, get to dry land. Don.t sit and pray. Later, you will remember that God has been with you.
This relates back to the prescene of God, and everything happens for a reason. God has a plan for us, I strongly agree. But are you saying let things in our life happen, without question because it maybe a act of God?
"For our sepration from God is the hardest work of all."
Does this mean that weather we like it or not, God is always with us?!
Sometimes I get confused and have to put things into my own terms in order to understand exactly what is meant. Sorry!