When you think of a testimony, you may usually expect there to be a really significant, monumental event or spiritual experience marking the start of an individual’s faith. Although these kinds of testimonies are valid and common, I struggle to relate to that idea. For me, it’s been a gradual journey, one full of high and lows, learning and growing alongside my Creator. 

As a young girl, I was taught the Lord’s prayer and to pray this every night. We prayed together as a family when we could and I was given my first Bible consisting of colourful images and simplified stories for me to understand. I occasionally attended Sunday school learning about the faith and teachings of the Bible getting involved with the activities on offer. My relationship with God consisted of prayers of gratitude for food, shelter, family as well as occasionally asking Him for Elsa’s ice powers from Frozen. I felt a warmth and protection by God’s presence.

By the time I reached around 8 years old, I had a slight shift in mindset. I wasn’t exactly sure about the faith and what I believed in. So, I remember speaking to my mother and explaining how I felt like I was unsure. I felt like I was on the fence. She was gracious in the way she responded and gave me the space to figure things out for myself. I still made it a part of my routine to pray every night despite being uncertain.

Fast forward a few years and I’m now attending a school which happened to be predominantly Muslim. My closest friends were one of the Ethiopian Orthodox faith and the other of the Islam faith. Around the age of 13, I sat with both of them at lunch, chatting as usual when my Muslim friend made this remark: ‘No offence Emiola, but I feel like Christians don’t really take their faith seriously.’ I will never forget this moment. It felt as if time stopped and God was trying to communicate with me.

Around the same time, my Ethiopian Orthodox friend was on her own rediscovery journey with Christianity. She encouraged me to look into my faith more and see for myself as she too had grown up in a Christian household but was uncertain. I had identified as a Christian, but did I really know what that meant? Did I really know what it meant to live this out in my daily life? From then on we started sharing resources and following Bible studies online together on the weekends. We even started evangelising together. I could feel my relationship in Christ grow alongside my understanding and time spent in His presence. I started to understand the urgency and importance of turning to Him and the consequences of not doing so. 

I didn’t have a clear idea of who I was in Christ and what exactly it meant to be a Child of God. I now have a better understanding of this and more. Learning about the Gospel myself allowed me to have confidence in who exactly Christ is, how He died on the cross taking the punishment for my sins and why He had to do so. I’m now on my professional placement year at university and have been involved in the Christian Union since first year. I have been growing in my knowledge and relationship with God, whether it be attending an apologetics conference or just learning to lean on Him when I struggle. Proverbs 3:5-6 states ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.’ This is a verse that I’ve held on to so dearly throughout my journey so far and I hope I will continue to do so for as long as I may live.