There are three different types of situations: those where we have complete free will, events that are decreed by God and are therefore unavoidable, and those that combine free will and necessity.

Type one: Where one has complete free will:

Acts that are performed with absolute free will are those that are, by nature, optional. They are affected by diligence and effort, and one is praised or disgraced on account of them. Prohibitions and commandments are relevant to this type of action, and reward and punishment are received for them. The origin of such actions is in the individual; there is no obstacle or burden whatsoever to performing them.

Type two: Circumstances that are subject to necessity:

However, the actions that are completely necessary are those that are decreed, whether by the stars or by God’s providence, as we will see, and these are matters over which humans have no control at all. Putting effort into [changing] them is futile, because these matters, whether good or bad, are not contingent on free will…. In this way, unexpected evil may befall a person when he had not done anything to deserve it. It is clear that this type of good or evil comes as the result of a decree, regardless of one’s choices.

Type three: Circumstances that combine choice and certainty:

Acts that combine the necessary, i.e., a [divine] decree, and free will, are like the case of one who digs a foundation and finds a treasure. If he had not made the effort to dig the foundation, he would not have found the treasure. It is clear that such matters are a combination of necessity and free will…. Most things that happen to people as a result of reward or punishment through God’s providence occur in this way, namely, a combination of a decree, which is necessary, and free will. (Rav Yosef Albo, Sefer HaIkkarim 4:5)