Today is my wife’s birthday and we’re excited as we’ll be spending the day together for the first time in four years. I blame my Boss for that. But thankfully, she’s always taken my absence on our special dates in good faith.
Please join me here, as I celebrate my wife and life-partner- Sola Izuora!!
Sometime ago, a friend asked for the meaning of my wife’s name, but the stage was not right for a response. Olusola is her full name but people call her Sola (pronounced Sheola) and it means, “The Lord has made wealth.” Her other name is Deborah. She fulfills these prophetic names and so much more.
Sola and I courted for a long time before marriage. Our courtship story is
here. It was not the courtship of our dreams but looking back now, we see it was God’s will. Were it not for her unflinching devotion to the cross of Christ and her convictions of His words to her about me, I would have been long swept away by the tidal waves of the world and its ways.
I’d successfully deceived many friends about my faith in Jesus, which waned progressively into a neat sham after we left the campus. But Sola was not fooled. She knew me inside out. In fact, she knew so much of what I thought I’d carefully concealed and fought hard to help me to my feet in the faith again.
It was so humbling when I realized she knew the truth about my deceits all along, but chose not to expose me to public ridicule or taunt me with my failures. She took a great risk on me. It was an act of faith based on her revealed truth not presumption. She said to me, “…I knew I really heard God about you.”
Sola’s presence in my life was God’s panacea for my unstable heart. I could write a book on this fact. Her calmness of spirit brought into our relationship, the balance needed to step to the next level.
We got married on April 29, 2000. How could I have such a God fearing, gorgeous, brilliant and lively lady for a wife, if not by grace? I learned that God’s people are graced and blessed primarily for God’s purposes and pleasure. I’ve tasted pure grace and bountiful blessings in my wife Sola.
Her passion for our ministry and life together is sound and reassuring. Sola’s love for God is deeper than mine; she’d object but I know this is true. I could be robotic and unreal sometimes, but not Sola. She carries sunshine with her; making me and her friends shine brighter with her gregarious personality. I use to think that people who meet my wife and don’t like her are dangerous people. Please don’t object if you’ve not met my wife.
How many times have I heard lines like, “Oh you have a wonderful wife…” or “…how did you get this girl?” or “… is she your wife? Lucky you!!” Luck has nothing to do with this. God blessed me with Sola and I’m BLESSED.
Sola continues to encourage and challenge me to higher heights with her tenacious devotion to the Lord Jesus. I’ve told several young friends seeking a life-partner to focus on those whose love for Jesus is deeper than theirs. It’s that love for God that will guide you to the light when darkness comes calling.
Sola is a cautious planner, a thinker, a prudent observer, a dreamer, a sensitive mate, a selfless servant, a great manager and much more. Her support cannot be equaled. “It’s tough marrying you… sometimes I don’t know what you really want.” She’d complain and I’ll secretly relish the “compliments”. Appearing complicated was once my best secret weapon for manipulation, until she invented her own counter-manipulation weapon for it.
Sola studies her environment pretty well, always wanting to make a difference. She loves to be a part of what is going on and add flavor to the moment. I’ve not seen anyone that didn’t like her at first meeting. Sometimes in my melancholy mood, I don’t like that. “You don’t have to be everybody’s friend…” “But you are better with more friends than enemies…” she’d reply. Sola loves to travel and meet people. Her relationship with my late dad was so special that I became envious.
My kin’s men admire her simplicity and friendliness. Many of them had wondered why I married a Yoruba woman. But all their questions were answered when they met Sola. “You married well… thank you for bringing this one to us…” If only they knew how it all started and the curves involved along the way.
Sola is my lover, my companion and my best friend. It was not always so from the start. But she has become more than her name proclaims, a part of me that many words will fail to accurately define.
We are blessed with two sons. Ed is 8, in primary four and Othniel is 2, in nursery school.
As we celebrate Sola’s birthday today, I acknowledge God’s infinite wisdom and unchanging purpose that brought us together and has kept us as one. I give Him all the glory and praise. Indeed, GREAT is His faithfulness.
Any toasts to Sola?
Author: Uche Izuora
I'm inspired by God’s passion for His name in every generation, which provokes global worship through Jesus Christ. Becoming an emotionally healthy and transformative disciple, I aim to mobilize the Church to engage in cross-cultural missions and raise other like-minded disciples who discover themselves in Christ and seek to present and represent Him as Savior and Lord among the nations northward of Uganda.
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Kingdom Exploits With Uche 
She is sister, adviser and soul and spirit lifter by her words. I missed working with her. I pray God will bless her and everything that is called her own, increase His grace upon her and her family IJN. HBD!!!
Mr Izuora! Am always challenged whenever am reading your adventures over there and all i could say is thank you Jesus for this life. I want you to know that God is solidly behind you and He’ll never let you down, Phil 4:19 will work wonders for you all the time. God bless you and yours real good!
Egberun Saaamuuuu!
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She is a sister, adviser and soul and spirit lifter by her words. I missed working with her. I pray God will bless her and everything that is called her own, God will increase His grace upon her and her family IJN. HBD!!!
Mr Izuora! Am always challenged whenever am reading your adventures over there and all i could say is thank you Jesus for this life. I want you to know that God is solidly behind you and He’ll never let you down, Phil 4:19 will work wonders for you all the time. God bless you and yours real good!
Egberun Saaamuuuu!
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Thanks to you all for your wishes. I am more than grateful to you all.
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Happy birthday great woman of proverbs 31.
Who can find her?
Only great men like my brother -Uche.
May God bless and keep you for us and for His purposes in planet earth in Jesus precious name amen.
We rejoice with you today as always.
JoyGbade.
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Toasts to SOla, no wonder you guys look alike!
I like the boys too.
I hope to meet her too one day before I die.
It seems the LORD is about to bring to pass some stuff he told me some time back.
Uche,This is amazing.
Blessings
Martha
Baby Sis
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