First Domino

[Hubi]

Prayer — The First Domino with Great Impact

Imagine a row of dominoes.

They stand neatly one behind the other. Silent. Motionless.

And then… a single stone touches the first one.

Very gently. Almost unnoticed.

And suddenly something begins:
One stone falls… then the next… and the next…
until an entire chain is set in motion.

What looked so small at the beginning unfolds into something powerful.

—

Dear brothers and sisters,

our prayer life can work in exactly the same way.

At times, we might feel:
“It’s just a prayer… maybe only a few words… maybe even imperfect.”

But from Jehovah’s perspective, a sincere prayer is never small.
It is like the first domino.

And today, we want to feel together how much can be set in motion by it.

—

1. The first domino: Drawing close to Jehovah

When we pray, something happens first that no one can see.

No big outward change.
No immediate visible solution.

But inside… something begins.

Our heart opens.
We speak with Jehovah—not formally, but honestly.

Maybe we say:
“Jehovah, I don’t know what to do…”
or:
“Please help me to stay calm…”

And in that very moment, something wonderful happens:

Jehovah draws close to us.

He doesn’t just hear the words—he hears the heart behind them.

Perhaps we have experienced that after a prayer, we didn’t immediately receive an answer…
but suddenly we no longer felt alone.

That is the first stone falling:

Closeness to Jehovah.

And this closeness is the foundation for everything that follows.

—

2. The second domino: Inner peace

When Jehovah is close to us, something inside us changes.

The circumstances may still be the same…
but our heart is no longer the same.

A storm may still be raging outside…
but within us, it becomes calmer.

Thoughts that were once spinning begin to settle.
Fears lose some of their power.

Maybe you know this feeling:
You go into prayer full of worries…
and you rise with a quiet peace.

Not loud.
Not overwhelming.

But present.

Like a gentle light in the darkness.

That is the second domino:

Inner peace.

—

3. The third domino: A change in our heart

And this peace does not remain without effect.

It begins to shape our heart.

Maybe we were tense before…
and now we react more patiently.

Maybe we were hurt…
and suddenly we find the strength to forgive.

Maybe we were restless…
and now we can listen calmly.

Prayer doesn’t just change our feelings—
it changes who we are.

And often, we don’t even notice it right away.

But others… do.

That is the third domino:

A changed heart.

—

4. The fourth domino: Influence on others

And now something very special happens.

Our changed way of being does not remain with us.

It touches others.

Maybe it’s a kind word you say…
maybe a patient look…
maybe a moment when you don’t react harshly but remain calm.

To you, it may seem like something small.

But for someone else…
it may be exactly what they needed that day.

Perhaps that person thinks:
“Why is he so calm?”
“Why is she so kind?”

And without even realizing it, you pass on something
that began in prayer.

That is the fourth domino:

Influence on others.

—

5. The fifth domino: Jehovah is honored

And at the end of this chain stands something great.

Something we often don’t fully see.

When others observe our behavior…
when they see love, patience, and peace…

they notice something.

Maybe not immediately in a conscious way…
but they sense:
There is something different here.

And in time, this can lead them to Jehovah.

Maybe through a question…
maybe through a conversation…
maybe through a thought that begins to grow in their heart.

And so Jehovah is honored—
through something that began with a simple prayer.

That is the fifth domino:

Jehovah is glorified.

—

A heartfelt illustration

Imagine the following situation:

It is early in the morning.

Everything is quiet.
Maybe you are sitting alone… perhaps with a heavy heart.

You pray.

Very honestly.
Maybe with tears in your eyes.

No one hears you.
No one sees you.

It seems like such a small moment.

But in that very moment, the first domino falls.

Later, you go out…
you meet someone…

and without consciously planning it, you are kind, calm, loving.

That person notices.

Perhaps they themselves are carrying a burden.
And your way of being gives them a small piece of hope.

And that person…
may pass that hope on to someone else later.

And so a chain begins…

A chain you will never fully see.

But Jehovah sees it.

He sees every single “stone” that has fallen.
Every moment.
Every effect.

—

Final thought

Dear brothers and sisters,

our prayers are never insignificant.

Even if they are quiet.
Even if they are short.
Even if they are imperfect.

They are the first push in the domino effect.

And that push can set things in motion
far beyond what we can see.

That is why it is worth continuing to pray.
To pray honestly.
To pray again and again.

Because every prayer has the power
to set a chain of goodness in motion.

And Jehovah…
he sees every single moment of it.

And it brings him joy.