Have you ever questioned whether your efforts truly mattered?

Wondered, Am I really making a difference… or just wasting my time?

Maybe you gave something your all—your time, your energy, your heart. You sacrificed blood, sweat and tears. You pushed through the exhaustion, held onto hope, and kept showing up.

But the results never came. Or not in the way you imagined. And now, looking back, you can’t help but ask: What was the point of it all?

Thirteen years ago, I wrote my first book, Don’t Make History, Change the Future—a short, punchy invitation to become a disciple-making disciple. It introduced "Live Life 123" as a sticky, disciple-making idea:
- 1 person you're learning from,
- 2 people you’re doing life with,
- 3 people you're leading—and helping them do the same.

Over the next three years, we gave away over 60,000 copies. Alongside preaching and training events, we shared this simple idea with the hope that it would spark disciple-making change.

But to be honest… that dream didn’t unfold the way I imagined. At times, I’ve looked back and wondered, Did it make any difference?

Then I’m reminded of these powerful words from The Message version of 1 Corinthians 15:58...

“With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.” 

Did you catch that?
Nothing is wasted.
God is always at work.

He takes the seeds of our offerings, tenderly sowing and watering them in people’s lives.
We may never see the ripple effects, but with God, there is always a ripple.
And every now and then, in His kindness, He lets us catch a glimpse.

Just last week, I heard from someone I hadn’t spoken to in over twelve years. He wrote:

"Matt, let me encourage you. I just had lunch with Olly—he’s now 34, working as our CAP Debt Centre Manager, passionate about outreach, and actively discipling others. He's even being considered for church leadership.
What many don’t know is, Olly was one of my '3'. And before long, he became one of my '2'. I actually brought him to one of your Live Life 123 training days about 10 years ago. He still remembers stories you shared that day.
Be encouraged, Matt. Your book helped fan the flame in both of us.
And by the way—that walk we took around the showground at Shepton Mallet in 2012? It’s one of the reasons we moved to Liverpool a few months later. That step is still bearing fruit."

So next time you’re wondering if your life is making a difference—whether it’s a random act of kindness or a long-term investment in someone or something—pause. Hear the whisper of Heaven...

Stand your ground. Don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.

What you do matters—more than you know.

I pray God encourages you today:
Keep going. Keep loving. Stay faithful.
Nothing is wasted.
Trust God is always at work in the ripple.
I pray He'll give you a cheeky glimpse from time to time ;)

Cheering and praying for you.

Matt