When The Journey Becomes The Answer 😍

I recently decided to go on a pilgrimage to Kibeho Shrine, walking on foot from Huye District. I didn’t begin this journey with deep spiritual intentions. I simply wanted to test myself. It felt like a physical challenge; something measurable. I wanted to see how far my body could go. But what I discovered along the way had very little to do with strength. It became something much bigger that I am still trying to understand.

The day before the journey, fear crept in. I almost gave up before even starting. My mind convinced my body that I couldn’t do it. I felt a strange fatigue I couldn’t explain. I began listing every reason to stay behind. But when morning came, something shifted. I felt renewed strength. I told myself, Just go. If it becomes too much, you can always take a bike and finish the journey. That small allowance gave me the courage to begin.

Two hours in, I was already thinking of quitting. My legs felt heavy, my energy was fading. And then, I remembered how often I leave things unfinished. This time, I told myself, At least finish this. I pushed forward… but only for a few more minutes before doubt returned.

Then, a friend from our group (we were walking, praying, and singing in groups) reached out and held my hand. Suddenly, I could match his pace. I was still weak, but I could keep going. I felt carried, in a way I hadn’t expected. In that moment, I realized: this journey felt like life.

Our destination was Kibeho Shrine. But in life, our true destination is Heaven. And just like that road, life can feel long, exhausting, and overwhelming. There are moments when you want to stop. Moments when the weight feels unbearable. Moments when people lose hope entirely. But when we remember where we are going, we find strength to take one more step. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

And the truth is: You can not do this alone, you were never meant to. “Two are better than one… If either of them falls, one can help the other up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10) We need people who walk beside us; not ahead, not behind, but with us. People who hold our hands when we feel like giving up. If I had been alone, I would not have walked even two kilometers. But with others, I walked twenty-eight.

There is a quiet joy in reaching the destination. A new confidence awakens within you. When I arrived, my legs were in intense pain, I could barely walk. Yet my lungs felt strong. I could sing loudly, even joyfully. My body was exhausted, but something deeper in me felt alive.

The next morning surprised me. I expected to wake up drained, but instead I felt rested, renewed, almost restored. And I found myself wondering: Is this what Heaven feels like? That deep rest… that quiet fulfillment after finishing the journey.

For a long time, I struggled with one question: Why is there so much suffering in the world? If God is all-powerful, why allow it? During a spiritual exercise with the Communion and Liberation movement, I once asked this. A priest told us to receive every season of life as a gift from God. I didn’t understand. How could suffering be a gift? He explained that Christ Himself suffered—not to glorify pain, but to show that suffering is not the end. At the time, the answer felt incomplete.

But something shifted during this pilgrimage. During Holy Mass on the second day, the priest raised the chalice and said: “Igihe yari agiye kugabizwa ububabare n’urupfu ku bushake bwe” slightly translating to “At the moment He willingly accepted suffering and death.” Suddenly, something clicked. Christ had a choice and He chose suffering not because it was easy, but because it was filled with love and purpose.

And in that moment, I understood something about our lives. We are not given the choice of whether life includes suffering. But we are given a choice in how we walk through it. We can resist and become bitter, or we can accept, trust, and walk forward with Christ who strengthens us. And we are not alone—His mother, Mary, also walked a path marked by love, pain, and unwavering faith. Scripture reminds us: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

During the pilgrimage, we received powerful teachings from Father Alex and members of the Emmanuel Community. One message stayed with me: Make time for God. Because no matter how busy you think you are, God will not create a 25th hour just for you.

We also reflected on the apparitions of Kibeho. The Virgin Mary appeared there and wept—for a world drifting away from God. That image stayed with me. It became personal. I began asking myself questions I had never thought of before: I have prayed for so much… but what have I given back? What have I done for Christ? What have I done for His mother?

At the shrine, I wrote down not only my wishes, but also my commitments. I left them in the chapel and kept a copy for myself, and I made a decision: To let Mother Mary become my accountability partner in this journey of faith and life. To live in a way that dries the tears from her loving eyes.

If you feel tired, empty, or lost, if nothing seems to make sense know this: Nothing heals the heart like knowing the love of God, nothing strengthens you like walking close to Christ. And all in all nothing sustains you like a community moving in the same direction. Find your people, do not walk alone. Scripture reminds us of the power of communal prayer: “Go, gather all the Jews… and fast for me.” (Esther 4:16)

If you are Catholic, I deeply recommend the Emmanuel Community. Their joy, their brotherhood, and their way of praising God can transform your faith. And if you are someone who questions and seeks deeper understanding, Communion and Liberation offers a path that engages both the mind and the heart.

Someone once shared this image: A child, wearing old, torn shorts, dances joyfully before his father and says, “Dad, thank you for buying me these.” What would the father feel? Wouldn’t he be moved to give him something new? That is what praise does. We come to God with our brokenness, our imperfections… and still choose gratitude, joy, and love. And He does the rest.

So don’t only ask God for more, choose to live in a way that honors Him. Set standards for your life that reflect His love. Walk the journey faithfully until the very end.

Something I want to leave with you is "we are called to build the kingdom of God, The task is personal but not individual."

Thanks For reading till the end💕