Guest writer Elzbieta shares how she became a Christian, and how a chemistry teacher, our Little Book of Chaos and a verse from the book of Isaiah were all key in her journey to faith. Read her story:

Before I truly encountered the gospel, I thought I knew what Christianity was about. Growing up in Poland, I was surrounded by the Catholic faith. Even though I was young and lacked a deep understanding of who God really is, I was sure of one thing: I was known and loved by Him.

However, as I encountered difficulties during my childhood, experienced loss, and struggled to make sense of suffering and evil, God’s presence began to feel increasingly out of reach. When I moved to the UK at the age of nine, I slowly abandoned any kind of faith altogether.

I continued to face many challenges throughout my teenage years. Like many young people, I longed to find my identity and for the pieces of my life to fall into place.

During that time, I was known for my dislike of the idea of God. I often argued with Christians, laughed at the concept of faith, and wanted nothing to do with it. And yet, I had a deep love for philosophy and religion at school.

In college, I continued to nurture my love for the subject. I was also blessed to have a Christian chemistry teacher who was open about his faith. My two years at college were the most difficult of my life by that point; I was completely lost and trapped in a complicated relationship that ended badly.

Though I struggled, I was supported by all my teachers and had good relationships with them. My chemistry teacher often gave his time to support students with their mental health and regularly shared how Jesus was his source of peace and strength. I always dismissed anything he said about God and rejected an invitation to the student Christian Union - but I still listened.

On the second-to-last day of our A-level exams, my friend and I went into his lab. On the desk was a leftover booklet titled Little Book of Chaos, a resource from Lifewords that had been used during a Christian Union session. I picked it up, saw that it was about Christianity and rolled my eyes but before I could put it back, my chemistry teacher walked into the lab and encouraged me to take it home. He explained it was about faith and mental health and thought it might help. I told him I didn’t need God, but being sentimental and feeling incredibly lost at the end of college, I placed it in a memory box I kept under my bed.

A few days after leaving college, I was in my room when I suddenly felt a strong urge to open the Little Book of Chaos. I tried to ignore it. It seemed random and out of place, but I couldn’t get my mind off it. So, I pulled out the memory box and opened the booklet at a random page. There I saw a quote from Isaiah 43. Being a student of philosophy and religion, I looked up the full passage.

My eyes landed on these words: “I have summoned you by name; you are mine”.

After years of searching for identity and meaning, those words silenced the noise. In that moment, everything made sense. Through the chills and emotion, I finally felt clarity and once again believed that God is real, and He is with me. 

I didn’t understand why God would want anything to do with someone like me, but I knew, without a doubt, that I believed in Christ and wanted to know more.

I began to pray. Days later, I was led to what became my very first Bible.

At first, my family and friends were understandably shocked by my turn to faith, given how strongly I had rejected Christianity. When the Bible arrived, my parents didn’t believe I was serious. But over time, they noticed changes: in the way I lived, in my habits, even in the way I carried myself. I finally had joy, regardless of my circumstances. My life became more colourful. I moved away for university, found a church, and was baptised at the end of my first year. A year later, I got married in the same church.

The resources from Lifewords continue to encourage me. They will always hold a special place in my heart because God used them to draw me back to Himself. Today, being able to connect with the Lifewords team and explore ways to incorporate their resources into my life as a student and a friend is a privilege I don’t take for granted.

If you’re reading this and feel unsure, lost, or even resistant to the idea of faith - I understand. I’ve been there. But I’ve come to know that even in our doubt, God is patient and present. He speaks through His Word, meets us in our chaos, and gently reminds us that we are His. I encourage you to keep asking questions, keep seeking truth, and don’t be afraid to open the Bible, even if you’re not sure what you believe yet. God’s Word is living and powerful, and through it, He makes Himself known.

Resources like the Little Book of Chaos from Lifewords carry truth in a simple, honest way that meets people right where they are. Whether you’re just curious or at a crossroads, trust that God can work in your life in ways you never expected, just as He did in mine.

Now, as I prepare to welcome a little boy into the world, I look forward to naming him Isaiah to honour the moment God used that name and His Word to remind me that I am His. I pray that his life, too, will be a testimony to the goodness and faithfulness of God and the power of His Word.

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