Marriage is often described as a journey—a walk of faith where two people come together, trusting in God’s guidance through both the joys and the challenges.
For Gideon Taiwo, a dedicated staff member at Sycamore Church, and his wife Tolulope Rhema Gideon-Taiwo, a psychotherapist, this journey has been one of faith, growth, and seeing God’s miraculous provision at every step.
Their story is a testament to how God shows up in unexpected ways, providing not just for their wedding but also laying a firm foundation for their marriage.
As we dive into their experiences, we are reminded that with God at the center, every challenge becomes a testimony of His faithfulness, and marriage becomes a beautiful journey filled with purpose, grace, and love.
How It Started
Gideon: I met my wife when I was in school; we were in the same fellowship, we became friends, and the rest is history. Sincerely, I can’t place it, but I know I liked her; I liked her character, her heart for God, how dedicated she is, and how she loves God.
Rhema: We met in fellowship on campus, we started as friends, and through our friendship my conviction about him being the one grew. I liked his character, his heart of service for people. Plus he is also a cute and visionary person. We share similar visions for the future.
The Wedding Planning
Gideon: My God, it was a faith journey. The time from our introduction to the wedding was short; we had to believe God for every single thing, from having conversations with our parents about what we wanted to disagreeing and agreeing on some things.
I think the one that was top for me was fighting for who would bless us and pray over us during our wedding. My wife and I were very intentional about making sure our pastor, Pastor Tolulope Moody, laid hands and prayed over us, so fighting for that with the wisdom of God, helped us surmount that challenge.
Rhema: Our wedding was a faith journey, it tested how much we believed in God beyond who we are or what we have. I personally always reminded myself of the wedding Jesus attended at Galilee.
There was so much for people to eat and drink because of His presence, and this helped me realize that: 1. God is intentional about my marriage. 2. My marriage and wedding are blessed because it is God’s idea.
Well, I can’t remember much of the challenges because I didn’t pay too much attention to what was wrong or not working. My major focus was on what God had done and what He would continue to do. But one key challenge was deciding which pastor would join us together, and we’re grateful that Pastor Tolu Moody took out time to do that for us
Experiencing God’s Miraculous Provision
Gideon: We witnessed a lot of testimonies during the wedding preparation phase. Let me share this one. One Sunday, I was at home meditating on how I needed to pay some bills, when suddenly a new number called me. The person introduced himself as my uncle, whom I hadn’t spoken to in 4-5 years.
He greeted me and asked for my account number. The exact money he sent was the exact amount I needed to pay for the bills. Another testimony was telling my parents that my wedding was God-sponsored. They truly testified to God’s glory, and there was surplus and overflow. We made up our minds not to borrow or put anyone under pressure to assist us, and we held on to that firmly.
Rhema: My God, we experienced overflowing testimonies! A man we hadn’t been in touch with for 15 years, who my husband had only spoken to once and had never seen until the wedding day, flew in from Dubai.
He had seen our invitation card and sent a huge amount of money that catered for most of the things we needed. Another testimony was when someone, who had never spoken to either of us before, bought a full cow just for the wedding.
How It Is Going
Gideon: I have a lot of favorite parts about being married to Rhema but the topmost is agreeing on something together, going on our knees and seeing it come to pass. Also, having good intimacy with my wife!
Rhema: My favorite part of being married to Gideon is how we challenge ourselves to see God’s Word in every situation. This just helps us live with a sense of purpose and intentionality.
Every day is an opportunity to see beautiful things in marriage. Maybe I’m yet to come into the fullness of it, but the fact that we are both driven gives me joy, plus the level of intimacy we share!
Advice For Young Couples In Relationships
Gideon: My advice is to first believe God and trust Him as your source. You may not have everything you want to start with, but I promise you, you do have everything you need to start.
Recognize it when it comes your way. Also, ask questions from people who have gone ahead of you. Don’t let the fantasy of a wedding take away from the reality of what you should and shouldn’t be doing. Cut your coat according to your size, and be open to help, but firm not to drag yourself into something you can’t control.
Rhema: The advice is in three parts: 1. Let God’s Word dawn on you that God is also interested in your wedding and marriage. 2. God truly honors His Word and blesses this institution. 3. Make sure you are wise enough to manage what God has made available.
Being In Sycamore Couples’ Community
Gideon: Sycamore Church Community has helped us in so many ways—in how we put structure to our lives, how we have conversations, the culture of the family, the vision for the family, how we honor each other, and making sure we’re looking out for each other.
The monthly Couples’ Forum meetings has been valuable and we are grateful for the vulnerability shared in these meetings.
Rhema: Sycamore community, especially Couples Forum is a big deal to us. It has helped us build structure in our marriage, and it has also affirmed our belief system about the kind of family we are building.
I remember one time we had a Couples Forum meeting about the phases of marriage and its realities. It was funny because we had a conversation about that just the day before, and we had built a structure around it already. The program affirmed our resolutions toward it.
Final Words
Gideon: For couples who are about to step into the marriage phase, I’d say put God first, have faith in God, and learn from people, but don’t copy people. Don’t be under pressure to be like anyone.
Be who God has called you to be. Be content with what you have, plug yourself into church, and be integrated into the house of God. Start from where you are, invest in your relationship with your partner and believe God for over and beyond.
Rhema: I’d say trust God. Make sure you build a strong level of agreement—spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Build the right friendships with couples around you who can help you stay sane and grow together.
Interview by Adebisi Amori and Mofiyinfoluwa Arogundade
Adebisi and Mofiyinfoluwa serve 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)
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Toluwanimi
Beautiful Story. May God keep their home.