The power of speaking life

We create ripples of possibility that extend far beyond our immediate circles when we speak life to our sisters, writes Shirene Agbelusi.

Right from the beginning of time, God demonstrated the extraordinary power of words. In Genesis, we witness the most profound act of creation imaginable: “Let there be...” and suddenly, darkness gives way to light, emptiness transforms into expansive skies, barren ground bursts into vibrant landscapes.

God’s words were not just sounds but creative forces that formed and filled our entire world. With each divine utterance, chaos was ordered, emptiness was populated, and potential became reality.

Just as God’s words breathed life into creation, we too carry that same transformative potential. Our words are not just expressions but powerful instruments that can build up or tear down, heal or wound, inspire or discourage. We have the ability to SPEAK LIFE ‒ to create environments of hope, to nurture potential, to bring light into darkness, much like the Creator did in those first moments of existence.

In the divine blueprint of creation, words were never meant to be idle. Just as God’s words brought forth light, land, and life, we are called to use our words as instruments of transformation. When we choose to encourage ‒ to speak life into the potential around us ‒ we mirror the very heart of God.

Personally, I have witnessed how the power of encouragement has shaped and transformed my daughter. At 16, she stands today not just as my child but as a young woman beginning to understand her true worth ‒ and it’s all because of the power of intentional encouragement. As her mother, I’ve played my part in nurturing her potential, but the collective voices of her ‘big sisters’ (as we call them) also helped her see herself in a new light. Where once she wavered with self-doubt, she now stands confident, thanks to a network of women who saw something in her that she couldn’t yet see in herself.

These ‘big sisters’ did more than offer casual compliments. They looked deeply, spoke purposefully, and named the gifts waiting to be awakened. They recognised her natural leadership, her profound heart for children, and most importantly, they told her! They didn’t just see her potential, they spoke it into existence. Slowly, carefully, they helped her recognise her strengths ‒ not through grand gestures, but through consistent, specific affirmation.

At first, she thought everyone was ‘just being nice’, but over time, she began to absorb these words like nourishment, each encouragement adding another layer of self-belief. Where she once hesitated, she now steps forward. Where she once questioned her abilities, she now trusts her instincts. These women have done more than offer support, together we’ve helped her write a new narrative about who she is and who she can become.

This is the extraordinary power of speaking life ‒ the ability to call forth potential, nurture gifts waiting to bloom, and help people see themselves as they were always meant to be seen. For women especially, this kind of support is transformative. When we choose to SPEAK LIFE as sisters, we create ripples of possibility that extend far beyond our immediate circles. Each encouraging word is like a seed planted ‒ quietly, but with the potential to grow into something remarkable.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.