Subhan Allah, very good realization on your part. Islam is a religion of ease. People make life unnecessarily complicated and stress too much, especially on things which they have no control over. Islam teaches that we should put our faith and trust in Almighty Allah. We should always be aware that no matter how must effort we exert, everything is due to Allah, and He has power over all things in the end. This is why prayer and supplication to Him is the best means of fulfilling something, or having blessings assured for one's intended work. Non-Muslims seem to be under the impression that Islam is harsh, rigid, and strict. I think that Islam is hard for those who live a certain lifestyle. If people love the temporal things of this world, Islam will be hard for them. But if people abandon this world and work for their salvation instead, Islam is greatly helpful in its teachings and instructions.