I Just Knew It Was God: From Searching to Finding Faith

From the outside, Ekaterina’s life looked successful. She had a college degree, a strong career, and her own place. She had done everything right—or so it seemed. But inwardly, she was struggling.

A Quiet Cry to a God She Didn’t Know

“I was deeply unhappy. I thought knowing God might help, but I didn’t really know how. I knew some Christians, but they never brought Jesus into our conversations. The only thing I could do was cry out to a God I didn’t know.”

That simple, desperate prayer became the turning point of her life.

A Peace Beyond Understanding

Almost immediately, Ekaterina experienced something she couldn’t explain. A deep, almost overwhelming peace settled over her—unlike anything she had ever known. Not long after, she felt an unexpected prompting to leave the very job she had worked in for five years and begin a cross-country journey.

“A beautiful, almost overwhelming peace settled on me. Then I felt an illogical prompting to leave my (very good) job of five years and take off on a cross-country trip. Somehow I just knew it was God.”

To those who loved her, the decision didn’t make sense. Ekaterina was a data analyst—trained to rely on facts, logic, and careful planning. Her family and friends worried deeply and feared for her mental health. But Ekaterina knew something had to change.

“I knew I needed a reset in my life, so I set out. The things I didn’t know—and the things I had wrong—were a poor foundation for finding God. I relied on crutches like alcohol and drugs to help me hobble along. Most of the time, I felt like a foolish failure, but the need to find God drove me on.”

The Seed of a New Beginning

During her travels, one night while staying alone in a rented cabin, Ekaterina heard a message that deeply stirred her heart. The teaching was about sowing seeds, and one statement stood out above all others.

“The message grabbed my heart. ‘In a year from now, your life will be different.’ That was just what I wanted: a different life! Desperate, I sowed a seed even though I’d never done it before. That beautiful peace settled on me again, and I went to sleep. But when I woke up, all I could think was, ‘What have I done? That was so dumb, I don’t have any income!’ I was filled with doubt and regret.”

That step of faith became another turning point. Soon after, Ekaterina began receiving emails and connected with the International Prayer Center at Inspiration Ministries. For the first time, she realized she didn’t have to walk this journey alone.

“I had been trying to do it all on my own.”

When the Road Gets Harder

Even with prayer and support, the road ahead was not easy. The loneliness and uncertainty grew heavier, and eventually she made the difficult decision to return home.

“Lots of things got worse. I headed back home, very scared, and feeling like I was returning to a ruined life.”

Not long after returning, Ekaterina was involved in a serious car accident. In that moment, she believed her life might be over.

“I thought God would just take me away in the crash, but He didn’t. I didn’t know why I was still alive.”

Forced to move back in with her parents, Ekaterina gave away the rest of her possessions. The loss of independence was painful, and she grieved the life she once had. Still, God continued to reach her—gently and persistently—through Inspiration Ministries.

“Inspiration Ministries’ letters and emails always found me. They were the encouragement I needed, always on time. I was so broken; my confidence and mind were shattered. I didn’t know how I could go on, but step by step God guided me. He closed some doors and opened others. He forced me out of my comfort zone, challenged me to return to my career, and renewed my connections. He healed my brokenness and gave me exactly what I needed. God spoke to me through your devotional magazine and your prayer ministers—every bit was an encouragement directly from Him.”

The Harvest of Faith

Healing didn’t happen overnight, but it was real and lasting. Exactly one year after sowing that first seed, Ekaterina could see undeniable change. Her life was coming together with new depth, purpose, and hope.

Now, another year into her walk with the Lord and advancing once again in her career, she speaks with gratitude and joy.

“I am so completely in love with God. It is the relationship I always wanted. He is faithful, wonderful, and there are no impossibilities with Him. It was all so worth it! He is great!”

Sometimes, the path to new life in Christ begins with letting go of what we thought we needed. In her search for peace, Ekaterina found the One who is peace. Today, her joy and confidence in God are the fruit of every seed sown in faith—and a testimony to His unfailing faithfulness.

Every story like Ekaterina’s begins with someone saying “yes” to Jesus. When you give, you help others encounter the peace and purpose only He can bring.