Recently, with great frustration, I kicked my clothesline. That action hurt my foot. It didn’t much bother the clothesline.

I was feeling frustrated, because the clothesline kept rotating while I was trying to peg clothes on it. This annoyed me, because it was not serving its very purpose of existence. It took so much more energy to do my job, because it wasn’t doing its.

As I stood there, feeling sorry for my foot, thinking on the expectations I had of a clothesline, an ever so tiny insect caught my attention and flew onto my hand.

I brought my hand close to my eyes and noticed its delicate wings and beautiful form.

For a moment, my focus was on the beauty of the insect alone.

I realised the clothesline was blind to what had captured my eyes, and it wasn’t its fault that the wind was bullying it.

Sometimes the very things that are frustrating to us, actually provide an opportunity to be blessed. Without persevering with the clothesline, I wouldn’t have got to see the insect.

Sure, in my case, I could have gone and grabbed a rope, and tied the clothesline down. But in reality, this story is not about clotheslines. It’s about the lack of control we have over life’s situations and circumstances that frustrate us.

It’s in those moment that we need to let Jesus capture our eyes. Our full attention. To take our eyes off the things beyond our control and onto Him, to prevent us from hurting ourselves.

I pray that you can hand the things over to Jesus that annoy, stress, or worry you, knowing that He is more than willing and capable to capture your full focus, to help you see His beauty, and provide you with His rest.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV