Grief’s Unexpected Journey: 15 Comforting Devotions After Losing Someone You LoveSample

The Domino Effect

We’ve all seen what happens when someone stands a bunch of dominoes on end, creating a long line in order to knock them all over, and then sets the line in motion. It starts with a tiny nudge of that first piece, and then, one by one, they fall until there are none left standing. This is a good picture of how we can feel when we’re struggling to find hope in our lives. That first falling domino may be a sense of discouragement, a sad memory, or a moment of doubt—anything that weighs our hearts down and clouds our minds with negative thoughts. What can happen next is just like a line of dominoes set in motion—a chain reaction leads to feelings of despair. Once our thinking is headed in a particular direction, it can be hard to make a turnaround. Because God knows this about us, He has provided us with ways to find freedom from the negativity and find hope in Him. When we feel powerless over our domino-like thoughts and feelings, He is the One who can stop the falling and start something new.

When we recognize dark thoughts, the most important thing we can do is say, “Lord, help!” We can acknowledge that He is infinitely greater than our thoughts or feelings, and He is able to guide us toward the light. He invites us to believe in His power to change what we believe is out of our control. “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him to help you do it, and He will” (Psalm 37:5 TLB). This includes renewing our minds.

During the times in our lives when hopelessness threatens to keep us down, let us remember that He offers hope in any moment. He stands ready to stop that domino effect of our struggles anytime we turn to Him. He delights in making room for His joy and peace to rise up in our lives. Even if we barely recognize it today, the more we trust Him, the more we will sense Him bringing light into the darkness—something He has done since the beginning of time.

Lord, help me to turn to You when negative thoughts and feelings bring me down. You are my hope!