Ever had one of those moments when the lights go out, and your favorite show is just about to hit the climax? Well, Olayinka Sunmola did.
But instead of focusing on the darkness, she prayed for light. And guess what? The power came back on! This is just one of the inspiring stories you’re about to read.
Olayinka is a University of Ibadan Botany graduate with a heart for God. She’s also a passionate member of the Next Steps team at Sycamore Church.
Let’s dive into her inspiring faith journey as she shares about her baptism, the power of prayer, and how she’s learned to trust God through it all.
Meet Olayinka Sunmola
My name is Olayinka Sunmola. I am a recent University of Ibadan graduate where I studied Botany. I began attending Sycamore in June 2019, around the second week after I got into UI. Shoutout to my brother, Seun Sunmola, for inviting me.
How God Showed Up For Yinka As a Child
I’d say my journey with Jesus began in my childhood. I’m really grateful I was brought up in a Christian home. Let me share a significant first-time personal experience I had with Jesus when I was young.
I recall that I was around 7 years old, and there was a power outage while I was watching my favorite TV show.
Earlier that day in church, I had sat through a lesson on the simple way of prayer in Sunday school. And I thought to myself, “Let me even try this thing,” because I didn’t want to miss even one second of the show.
In that moment of childlike faith, I fell to my knees, bowed my head and asked God to restore power. To my amazement, before I even got back up to my feet, the lights had come back on. It blew my mind! I was the happiest kid!
That simple experience deepened my trust in God’s faithfulness, and I’ve cherished it as a reminder of His presence ever since.
Turning To Jesus As A Teenager
My encounter with Christ continued to evolve during my secondary school years, and my last year, SS3, was a notable highlight. I had felt overwhelmed by the daunting task of writing JAMB, so I turned to Jesus for strength and guidance.
As I drew closer to Him, I found my confidence renewed and saw myself embracing a newfound boldness. Through His grace and provision, I faced the exam with courage and emerged with exceptional results.
After those two foundational experiences, my faith journey has been marked by increasing conviction and resilience. Every step has reminded me that with God, nothing is impossible and without Him, I can do nothing. Jesus is my all in all and I’m absolutely nothing without Him!
Following Jesus’ Footsteps
Those two personal experiences shaped my relationship with Jesus and laid the groundwork for a deep and personal connection that continues to define my spiritual journey.
They also played a significant role in leading me to the decision to get baptised. They pushed me towards understanding the character of God. He really is a loving, faithful, and forever good Father!
Also Read: “How I Learned to Talk to God”
As I studied the word of God, I gained a deeper conviction of my faith in Christ. I became committed to mirroring Christ in every aspect of my life, as Ephesians 5:1 admonished, “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you.”
Since Jesus Himself was baptised, I knew I had to follow His example. The way I saw it, embracing baptism was a symbolic act of obedience, honour, and reverence for a God that I loved deeply.
Taking The Huge Step
The day of my baptism was truly an amazing experience. I felt liberated, as if a burden had been lifted from me. I think this was because it was something I had long desired to do.
Prior to that moment, I was always hesitant and frequently postponed it out of nervousness. But as I went through with it, I felt a deeper sense of oneness and completion, knowing that I had publicly declared my identification with Christ.
Despite feeling nervous, I was glad I took that step. I felt a deep level of joy because I knew Jesus was proud of me!
Related: “I Trusted Him Even When Everything Else Told Me The Opposite”
Since my baptism, I would say that I have been more convicted in my faith. The baptism moment felt like a firm commitment where there was no turning back.
Of course, there are still obstacles and challenges along the way, but I’ve found myself becoming more grounded and truly focusing on seeing Jesus each day.
A Word For Anyone Struggling To Find Their Way On Their Faith Journey
God sees you exactly as you are. As Pastor Tolu Moody often says: God knows your struggles, doubts, and fears, and He still believes in your best! It’s important that you realise that Jesus is aware of everything you’re facing.
He’s simply waiting patiently for you to surrender it to Him. He wants to help you, and He desires a relationship with you more than anything else.
I would encourage you to talk to Him openly and honestly, as you would to a trusted friend. Confess your struggles and lay them at His feet.
Remember, you are not too broken or too dirty for Jesus. In fact, He came precisely for people like us — those who genuinely recognise their need for Him and seek repentance.
God knows your struggles, doubts, and fears, and He still believes in your best! – Pastor Tolu Moody
Related: Watch The Power Of A Rightly Aligned Heart sermon from the Heartitude Series.
God takes our brokenness and transforms it into something beautiful. He’s like a skilled artist who repairs broken pottery with gold, making it even more beautiful and valuable than before.
So don’t hesitate to bring all your broken pieces to Him. Allow Him to mend you – He is the ultimate healer, and He longs to restore you.
Lastly, remember you are never alone, even on the days you falter. Rather than dwell on your failures, try to maintain a focus on God; He is always right there to pick you up. Trust in Him with all your heart.
If Ms. Sunmola’s story reminds us of anything, it’s that as Christians, we have a loving, present Father who is intentional about every moment that leads us to Him. Our role in the story is simply to yield and lean into Him. He does the rest.
This Sunday is Baptism Sunday at Sycamore, a single service by 9am. If this conversation has inspired you to follow the example of Jesus and get baptised, follow this link to register your decision. Share this story with your community too!
Interview by Victor Anih
Victor serves with the Content Team at Sycamore Church
(Blogposts are creative expressions generously provided for Sycamore Church. The ideas and thoughts do not necessarily represent the position of Sycamore Church)
