There is a book called “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff”. It is a very easy read and one I recommend to everyone. What it basically is saying is that there are a lot of things that can happen in ones life and if we let every thing upset us, then it will essentially drive us crazy.
Most of the things we encounter are just inconveniences. For example, my basement recently had a minor flood due to the rain. Some things got wet, but nothing was permanently damaged and even if it was it could be replaced. Yes it is aggravating, but it was not worth getting upset over. In fact, I would classify most of the issues I have encountered as small.
I say this, because I remember my father went into a rage every time something happened. He could not handle the small stuff and as a consequence, the really major issues would cause him to basically shutdown. Now as time has gone on, he has mellowed some, but not enough.
Does God want us to sweat over the small stuff?
Philippians 4:6-7 New International Version (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:14-15 New International Version (NIV)
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
Matthew 6:25-34 New International Version (NIV)
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
It is not easy to not sweat the small stuff, but that is what we are supposed to do. Our attention is to be focused on God and what he wants us to do. If our attention is focused on the little things in our life, then how will we know what God wants us to do?
Lord thank you for taking the small stuff out of my hands. Help us to realize that we do do not need to worry about the little tings in our life. If you are the type of person that is anxious about a lot of things, then I urge you to pray to God to ask for help.