There was a time when I believed I had everything under control.
I saw myself as good, clean, and above the world’s chaos. I kept to myself, avoided trouble, and thought I was doing fine. But deep down, my actions were not driven by a love for God. I was merely hiding behind the mask of low self-esteem.
Then one day, something stirred in me. I stood in my chorister’s robe during a church service, and in that moment, I felt an unmistakable pull. I didn’t fully understand what it meant to give my life to Christ, but I stood anyway. That day in 2010 became my turning point. It felt like the beginning of something brand new, something full of promise.
Everything began to shift. I realized I wasn’t saved because I behaved well or kept my distance from trouble. I was saved because of God’s grace. My so-called goodness couldn’t earn me anything. What I needed was a real relationship with the One who could truly change me.
For the first time, I saw the truth. We are all born with a nature that needs redemption. I had spent so much time trying to be a perfect Christian that I had forgotten what it meant to be compassionate. I used to preach in a way that left people feeling condemned instead of hopeful. Once, my brother had told me how manipulative I was with my intense approach to righteousness. And he was right.
A SHIFT.
Things changed more deeply when I got into my National Diploma program. That was when I started to understand what discipleship truly meant. It was also the time when temptation hit the hardest. The very things I thought I had left behind came knocking again. Old desires, complicated friendships, and romantic attractions suddenly became challenges I had to navigate with wisdom.
I didn’t pretend to have the answers. So, I reached out for help. I asked questions, sought counsel, and cried out to God. Through those honest moments, I found people who stood by me—accountability partners who reminded me of who I was becoming. Scriptures like 2 Corinthians 5 verse 19 and Hebrews 13 verse 4 became anchors for my soul, guiding me when things felt blurry.
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:19 (NLT)
Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery – Hebrews 13:4 (NLT)
Yes, I had to let go of some friendships. Not everyone understood my decision to live differently. But I gained something far greater.
I discovered peace. Not the kind that disappears when life gets hard, but the kind that holds you steady through every storm.
If you ask me today, I’ll tell you without hesitation. Choosing Christ was the best decision I ever made. Life with Him is full of meaning, full of joy, and full of grace. Every single day, I get to walk in the beauty of that choice. And honestly, there’s nothing better than that.
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Oluwatobiloba Emmanuel serves with the Junior Church and within Communities as a lifegroup leader at Sycamore Church, Ibadan.
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Written By Mofiyinfoluwa Arogundade
Fiyin serves with the Content Team at Sycamore Church, Ibadan.
(Blogposts are creative expressions generously provided for Sycamore Church. The ideas and thoughts do not necessarily represent the position of Sycamore Church)
