I was once a timid boy. Mama knew. She often said, ‘mo ku enu’—if something isn’t killing me yet, I don’t speak up. This has made me lose many relationships. I am just unnecessarily nice. So, when you do something, I don’t talk until you have done too much; this makes me blow hot and sever the relationship. Most times, I ghost the relationship. I am good at that and can also control the narrative, making it seem like you are at fault. Of course, you are.
When I wanted to address this weakness, it was a little challenging. I started from the church, often during Sunday school. I started asking questions and also giving my ‘not-so-popular insights.’ It made Sunday school sweet. Before I went for NYSC, I loved making people look into the paths they were avoiding or wouldn’t normally look into. And I didn’t mind playing the fool. I would worry about that in my quiet time.
The problem didn’t stop.
When I got to Osogbo, I joined a very good family church. Young minds like me—wow, they were doing exploits. But me, I was in my thinking phase; actions couldn’t action because I was yet to break the chain. I was scared of failure; I was scared to fail openly. But these people, with love, stood by me. I was elevated. When I talked, I looked into their eyes, and I could see they were impressed. Right there, I knew I could do it. I just needed to be brave and courageous.
My pastor urged me to join him on evangelism. Twice a week. It was a tough one. Me wey still dey do some hidden things and just left some. Who I be to tell person to accept Jesus?
But my pastor isn’t someone whose request I can reject. I joined. For a few outings, I was just there. I didn’t approach anybody. I just watched Pastor and Bro Tobi do their thing.
This was also when I felt I had a few business plans, and I could discuss them with investors who had big money to invest. But my confidence level was low. I was Timid Ayo. What if it is true, ‘ideas are easy to conceive’?
I worried so much that I went on my knees and cried to God. He spoke the word: Be actively involved in evangelism. If you can pitch Jesus to a lost soul on the street, you can pitch your business idea to anybody.
Our next outing, I was full of energy. I just dey approach dey go. My pastor had to comment that he loved what I was doing, that it seemed I had caught the fire. I just smiled. If only you knew, Sir.
You see, for some of us, showing who we are—who we really are—different from who the world, friends, family, and parents have told us we are, takes a lot. You have to be brave and courageous.
What you also need is a good environment. The best place to start is right in the church—the house of your Father. Charity begins at home. What you can’t show at home may be difficult to show the world. The church is a little more accommodating than the world. Just show yourself.
Serve God with your ideas, passion, talents, and voice. Don’t just sit through every service in church. Becoming a worker can be what invokes a new level of blessing for you in 2025.
