“The length of a tree is best known when the tree is down.”
— African Proverb
This profound truth reminds us that the full measure of a person’s life—their worth, their influence, their significance—is often only understood in hindsight. Many of us go through life making sacrifices, showing up faithfully, doing good, and hoping to see visible fruits of our labor. But the reality is, you may never really know the full impact of your actions—not in the present moment.
There are people who are benefitting from your life without ever announcing it. Some observe you from afar, drawing strength and inspiration from the way you live, the choices you make, the resilience you show in adversity. Others are being changed by your words, your kindness, your prayers, and even your silence, though you may never hear their testimonies.
SILENT IMPACT: LIKE THE WOMAN WITH THE ISSUE OF BLOOD
Consider the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25–34). She approached Jesus quietly, touched the hem of His garment, and received her healing without a word. Had Jesus not been spiritually sensitive, He might never have known about her silent yet life-changing encounter. She was healed and would have walked away anonymously—no recognition, no testimony, no visible sign of what had taken place.
And so it is with you.
Some of your greatest moments of influence will happen silently. Some of your most impactful seeds will bloom in gardens you may never walk in. The lives you touch might never come back to say “thank you,” but that doesn’t mean your impact is any less real.
PROPHETS IN THEIR TIME
Think of biblical prophets like Jeremiah. In his lifetime, he was hated, misunderstood, even labeled unpatriotic for delivering hard truths to his people. His words were often rejected. Yet today, we revere him as a major prophet, and his writings form a significant part of the biblical canon.
Or consider Isaiah. His Messianic prophecies are now treasured, quoted, and sung around the world. But in his own time, he too faced resistance and ridicule. The value of their ministries only became fully evident long after they were gone.
THE LEGACY OF JAMES MCKEOWN
A powerful example from our own context is James McKeown, the Irish missionary who pioneered what would become The Church of Pentecost in Ghana. When McKeown first arrived in the Gold Coast in the late 1930s, he endured intense hardship, cultural misunderstandings, and even rejection from the very people he came to serve.
Yet he pressed on—planting, building, and nurturing a movement he might never have imagined would become global.
Today, the Church of Pentecost has branches in over 190 countries, touching millions of lives—not just spiritually, but through education, social interventions, and national development. Yet McKeown himself didn’t live to see the full extent of what he began. He planted seeds, watered faithfully, and left the rest to God. His life is a timeless reminder that you may never really know what your faithfulness will birth.
THE LEGACY OF WILLIAM WILBERFORCE
Another profound example is the life of William Wilberforce, an 18th-century British parliamentarian who gave his life to the fight against the transatlantic slave trade. For years, he faced mockery, political opposition, and legislative defeat. His advocacy was labeled idealistic and bothersome. But he remained relentless, committed to justice and human dignity.
It wasn’t until just three days before his death in 1833 that the British Parliament finally passed the Slavery Abolition Act, ending slavery in most of the British Empire.
Wilberforce never got to fully witness the global ripple effect of his work—how it inspired freedom movements across continents. Yet today, his name is remembered as a symbol of righteous perseverance. Millions have been liberated because one man chose to persist, even though he rarely saw the fruits in his lifetime.
KEEP SOWING ANYWAY
What you are doing now—your acts of love, your commitment to purpose, your quiet integrity—might not be fully appreciated in the moment. But that doesn’t mean it is wasted.
Sometimes, the deepest impact takes time to surface. And sometimes, it may never be seen by human eyes at all—but God sees, and He rewards.
So keep showing up.
Keep sowing faithfully.
Keep doing what is right, even when no one seems to notice.
Because you shall never really know how far your influence goes—until eternity tells the full story.
Written by: Overseer Joel Kwesi Baidoo (Kpandai New Town District / 0207079250)
