Speak up or Die

We all have a voice and our voices have a purpose. Many of us sit in silence or don’t say what we truly feel for fear of how it will be received. Remaining silent is not always a good thing. Sometimes our silence can kill things that we don’t even realize we are killing: our confidence, dreams, growth, and even someone else because we aren’t speaking up. For years, I sat in silence because I was scared to tell people I suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts. I just knew that people wouldn’t understand how the girl that was always smiling and such a people person, used to suffer from depression and tried to kill herself more times than she can count. I held so much in because I didn’t want to be doubly judge for being disabled and suffering with depression and suicidal thoughts. As I continued to hold things in, I saw myself slipping away and becoming someone I didn’t even recognize. One night while I was praying, God said to me, “Speak up or you’re going to die. You’re killing yourself with your own words and you don’t even realize it. Find your voice and use it. ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue.’ ” Proverbs 18:21(AMP). I had to realize that if I wanted life, I had to speak life. I encourage you to speak up, speak out, speak life and trust God. What we speak will manifest. Love, Eboni P.