It’s easy to get down in life. We wonder: “Am I making a difference?” or “How do I know if I’m living true to God’s plan?”

A part of the reason we can get frustrated is because we can’t always see the fruit of our labour. We live each day and don’t know if the things we say or do make an impact in the long run.

Or do we?

Today I want to remind you about something that can lift your perspective back up to a horizon of hope.

Ephesians 1:10 tells us something about what God is up to in the world. It says that God’s mysterious plan is “to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”

Woah. Go get a highlighter and flip open your Bible to Ephesians 1:10.

It says that through the course of human history, God is bringing unity to all things. The word “unity” is a large idea that includes healing, wholeness, peace, reconciliation, harmony and abundant life.

So what does that mean for you?

It means that no small act of faith goes to waste. Everything you do that somehow contributes to that vision of unity—that honours God, that is in line with the teachings of Jesus, that is consistent with his vision for the world—somehow contributes to this wonderful unity that our Creator God is weaving together.

Every sincere prayer.
Every act of forgiveness.
Every word of truth that is spoken with respect.
Every deed which makes our environment cleaner.
Every project that makes our streets safer.
Every action that cultivates healing in the human heart.
Every deed of love toward a friend, family member, stranger or enemy.
Every act of beauty or justice that muscles up against the ugliness of our bruised and bruising world.

You can’t always see the end result. But God can. It’s the unity of all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

So are you making a difference? Yes you are.

No small act of faith goes to waste.

By Matthew Ruttan

• Today’s “Up!” is partly based on my Sunday podcast. You can listen to the full 20-minute message here.