Life can be tough sometimes. We often fear the big challenges, but it’s usually the small things that wear us down. Like tiny gnats, they annoy every part of our lives. Like small insects, we spend our time swatting at what we can’t see. Finding the source of the problem is often missed because we don’t realize what’s right in front of us. Years ago, I heard someone say that they only deal with the gnats that land on them; the others they ignore. I wonder if that is true for the irritating gnats of everyday life?

We do let the small things get to us, don’t we? The car not starting, the broken shoelace, and the phone we forgot to charge. The list of everyday annoyances is overwhelming. Focusing only on the ones that affect us is like the Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the serenity to change the things I can, courage to know the things I can’t, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Sometimes we spend too much time on what we can’t change.

Have you ever considered making a list of things we can’t change? The first thing that comes to mind is people; I can’t change others. Yet, we keep trying, don’t we? Why is that? Are we so naive to think we have that kind of power? Can’t we see that the energy we spend trying to change others is draining us? And then, we wonder why we feel overwhelmed.

I learned years ago that healing others is beyond my abilities. I can suggest and even guide, but the choice to change ultimately rests with the individual. Just because we put up a stop sign at an intersection doesn’t mean everyone will obey it. Sadly, many ignore the stop signs of life just as they do in their cars. Distractions are everywhere; making people aware of them is only part of the solution. Getting them to actually heed those warning signs is another challenge.

Maybe we become overwhelmed because we’re trying to do too much. Perhaps we need to let go of the control we try to exert and trust God. Think about it.