I guess I have to use my VOICE....

The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives inside us…..

Can we just deep that? 

The spirit that raised a dead man is the same spirit at work in our lives…..

I’ve been reflecting on this all Easter weekend because this was the first time that I actually heard it….and by heard it, I mean the first time I paid real attention to it. 

Let me ask you this? Do you truly believe that? Or are you like me, who has heard it but not really understood it on a cellular level? 

Asin, a man, died. He said He was going to come back to life after 3 days, and then He did and ascended into heaven. The audacity and confidence He had to say that to a group of people that were soooo offended by Him that they literally killed him is unmatched…..and now you’re saying that I HAVE the same effrontery as that man? 

If I truly believed that, then I wouldn’t be so scared of things like rejection, abandonment, hurt feelings, taking chances, “putting myself out there”.....but this is the TRUTH. As a Christian woman who claims to believe in God and the Bible, why don’t I fully imbibe this spirit of God? 

I think somewhere along the way, I allowed the world and society to shape my perspective and eventually my identity. As a Nigerian, I was taught to have pride in my identity, and then I moved to Canada at 16 by myself, and “being black” and “African” meant something that I wasn’t even fully aware of. For some people, it meant “oh this poor starving African child that got the opportunity to come to Canada”....which was so confusing for me because I grew up pretty privileged, went to the best schools, and travelled the world all before 16. For others, it meant I was a “threat”....I vividly remember being followed by the security guard in Indigo, one of my favorite Canadian bookstores. Again, I was so confused that I spoke to the security guard and asked him if he needed anything. LOL…I had no idea that he was following me around because he thought I was going to steal something. It wasn’t until I told someone else the story that they told me I was being racially profiled. I legit had NOOOOO idea. 

It’s crazy because all those tiny experiences start to slowly shape you. Going home to Nigeria during Christmas break to a beautiful house, luxury cars, grand weddings, and extravagant Christmas brunches, and then coming back to Canada to be treated like a second-class citizen was SOOOOO confusing for me as a teenager. It’s been many, many years since, but you don’t realize how those experiences shape you. 

After high school, uni, work, masters, more work, starting a business, and just generally growing up….I became more fearful over the years. 

Afraid of being misunderstood,

Afraid of “what would people think.” 

Afraid of stepping into what God has called me to do

Afraid of using my voice. 

But if you know me, you know I have coconut head lol…..so I still did all the “THINGS”.

I still spoke up at work when things were not making sense

I still started the blog (you guys, I’ve been sharing my ACTUAL life on the internet for 6 years)

I still started the business where I cho cho cho (talk) for a living 

I still posted every day on LinkedIn for the last 6 or 7 years

I still remained the person in almost every room who says the thing everyone is thinking but afraid to say. 

But my mantra has always been “do it afraid”. I’ve even coached people to “do the thing, feel the fear, and do it again”.....to the point that people always say you’re so good at being vulnerable and relatable, you’re so fearless, you’re so confident….my dear; im afraid oh but it’s almost like the holy spirit takes over and just speaks through me.....

What would it look like if, instead of resisting my calling in life (using my words to impact people), I just embraced it? What if I remembered that the SAME spirit that literally raised Jesus from the dead, lives in me? How would my life change? 

These are the questions….. 

I think where I'm at right now, as of April 7, 2026, I'm lowkey still “doing it afraid”….but I want to do it, and God has been calling me to use my voice EVEN more. 

• He told me to write a book in 2020, it's 2026, and only chapter 1 has been written after spending $5000USD last year on book coaching 😅. 

• He told me to start a podcast ages ago; we thank God, your girl has recorded season 1 and has even released episode one - check it out here! 

• He told me to speak on stages; I’ve been doing virtual events and free workshops for YEARS, but I feel like the stage has been calling for a long time. So I joined a community called “Speak Up” for women who want to use their voice to impact 

• He has also told me to be a voice in my family….hmmm this one is tough shaaaaa; my very large opinionated Nigerian family can be intense [can’t lie] but we meuve 

The truth is, I want to be obedient. I may not be ready oh (fear is catching me), but I want to try. And by try, I mean, do. Someone once said to me, “Even if your voice shakes, speak anyway.” 

WELL, I’ve said it on the internet, so I guess I'm accountable to it now? Please abeg, if you see me in real life, don’t ask me about the book haha, unless the holy spirit urges you specifically… in that case, feel free. 

Ok im done yapping for now. 

Here’s to using our voice more and in more places. 

Ibiyemi