Freedom From Fret

Pastor: Jeff Love

The Domino Effect of Worry

Domino (Noun/Game): A small tile laid down that, when set in motion, can knock over a whole line.Domino (Verb/Action): To trigger a chain reaction that keeps going once it starts.

We’ve all seen it happen: one tiny domino falls, and suddenly hundreds go tumbling. That’s the Domino Effect—where a seemingly small or unrelated event sets off a series of consequences that can be bigger than we ever imagined.

Jesus points out a Biblical Domino Effect in Matthew 6. He shows us that what we treasure, what we trust in, and what we worry about are all connected.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?”— Matthew 6:25, NKJV

The Domino of Treasure

Jesus begins by asking us where our treasure is (Matthew 6:24). If our focus is on earthly treasure—stuff that moth, rust, or thieves can take away—then worry will naturally follow. But if our treasure is in heaven, our perspective changes.

Serving God as the Lord of our life sets off a different domino effect: trust instead of fear, peace instead of worry.

The Domino of Worry

Jesus repeats three times in just ten verses: “Do not worry.”

• Don’t worry about food, water, or clothing.

• Don’t worry about things outside your control.

• Don’t let worry steal your trust in God.

We are not defined by our stuff. At the end of our lives, much of what we’ve accumulated will simply become someone else’s burden. Instead, Jesus reminds us that our value is not in what we own—but in who created us and how much He loves us.

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”— Matthew 6:26, NKJV

God defines us, not culture. God establishes our worth, not our possessions.

The Domino of Faith

Jesus makes the contrast clear: worry accomplishes nothing. It doesn’t add time to your life or height to your stature (Matthew 6:27). Worry only drains.

Faith, however, sets a new line of dominoes in motion:

• The more I trust in God, the less I worry.

• The more I worry, the less I am living by faith.

It comes down to where my eyes are fixed—on myself and my kingdom, or on God and His kingdom.

The Domino of Priority

The solution Jesus gives us is not complicated, but it does take intentionality:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”— Matthew 6:33, NKJV

Seeking God first in every moment sets off a chain reaction of peace, provision, and perspective. It doesn’t mean we don’t work hard, provide, and take responsibility—but it does mean that we acknowledge that God is ultimately the One who provides.

The Domino of Today

Finally, Jesus brings it to the present moment:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”— Matthew 6:34, NKJV

When we live in today, trusting God with tomorrow, worry loses its grip. The domino of trust knocks down fear, anxiety, and doubt—leaving room for faith, joy, and peace.

Final Thought

The Domino Effect of Worry is real—but so is the Domino Effect of Faith. One choice can trigger a chain reaction. When we treasure God above all else, trust Him to provide, and seek His kingdom first, the dominoes fall in our favor.