Led by Faith is Immaculée Ilibagiza’s second book, following, Left to Tell: Discovering God amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, which chronicles her survival. In Led by Faith, we learn about Immaculée’s journey through her career, marriage and motherhood and most importantly how God is with her every step of the way.
I believe that the most important take-away from this book is that we are never done asking God for help. I have read other divine intervention books before that seem to paint a picture of finality. That once God grants a miracle, everyone simply lives happily ever after. This book solidifies reality in that once we overcome one obstacle another one is always waiting, and the only way we cannot just survive, but thrive, is with the grace of God.
Immaculée never becomes complacent in her prayers.
Faith is a living thing that must be nurtured every day through prayer, kindness, and acts of love.
p. 192
I believe it is her all-knowing dependency on God that has awarded her all the graces in her life. She also stays true to her promise written in her previous book, that if God puts her on the path, she will do the walking. From learning type, to writing her manuscript, she is always giving her best effort whilst clutching her rosary. Her first interaction with Wayne Dyer (responsible for publishing her first book) is so serendipitous, you’d think Jesus was hosting a networking convention. In fact, you witness many divine interventions through the people she meets in the midst of prayer.
To me, one of the most inspiring moments in the book is when Immaculée is describing her wedding planning, or lack thereof as weeks before the date she could still not find anyone able or willing to host the celebration. She runs into an old friend of her father’s, Sayinzoga, who answers her prayers and offers to host the wedding. When she thanks him, he replies, “Thank your father. The goodness we do lives after us, and a kindness is never forgotten.” This notion of goodness being immortal, what better gift could we leave for future generations?
In Immaculée’s epilogue she describes returning to Rwanda for her brother’s wedding ten years post-genocide. She describes a country not just healing but developing. Suburbs with new homes and happy children playing in tree-lined streets. A monthly civic-clean up day, a house of parliament with 50% women, and joyful songs coming from church. Not naïve enough to claim perfection, but hopeful enough to believe in the miracle of forgiveness.
I will say, Immaculée Ilibagiza’s writing has not made me forget about the injustices of the world, but it does give me hope, that we can overcome them.