The Long Road That Strengthened My Faith

There was a season in my life when I had to make one of the hardest decisions as a young believer. I was living in Sabo town in South Ibie, staying with my older brother Dickson and his wife. At that time, I felt constantly maltreated. But even more importantly, I felt my spiritual life slipping. I didn’t want to backslide, not after everything God had begun in me.

So, with determination and a hunger for God, I left Sabo and returned to Iyorah village to live with my parents.

That single decision came with a heavy price.

My school then was Our Lady of Fatima College (formerly Otaru Grammar School), and the distance from Iyorah to the school was over 20 kilometers. Every day, I woke up at 4:00 a.m., long before the sun considered rising. I would step onto that long, lonely road, sometimes in total darkness, and start walking.

The mornings were quiet—too quiet for a boy my age alone on the road—but God walked with me.

The real challenge came in the afternoons. After closing at 2:30 p.m., I would face the scorching sun on my journey back home. Some days I reached home around 4:00 p.m., completely exhausted, my legs aching, drenched in sweat.

But even in those moments, I felt something unusual growing inside me—strength, resilience, and a dependence on God that nothing else could have built.

Back in the village, I found something priceless:

brethren with whom I could share my faith.

We prayed together, encouraged one another, and kept each other spiritually sharp.

Those long walks, the loneliness, the heat, the exhaustion—they were all becoming part of my training ground. God used that season to shape my character, deepen my faith, and teach me endurance.

Today, when I look back at those 20km journeys under the rising morning and burning afternoon sun, all I can say is:

Thank You, Lord—for using the hard road to build me.