From Trauma to Triumph: How God's Love Transformed Kim's Heart and Healed Her Deepest Wounds
A Powerful Christian Testimony of Overcoming Childhood Trauma,
Finding Faith, and Embracing Redemption
When you first meet Kim, her radiant smile and graceful style exude elegance and poise. It’s hard to imagine that beneath that lies a past marked by deep pain, known only by those close to her. Although Kim’s story begins with hardship, it’s ultimately one of hope and redemption—a testament to how God can find you in the most unexpected places and transform your life through His boundless love.Kim’s journey is one of resilience, marked by the pain of a difficult childhood and the healing power of faith.
Born in the Netherlands to an alcoholic mother and an absent father, it seemed as though the odds were stacked against her. Taken away from her mother at just three months old due to neglect and alcoholism, Kim was placed in the care of a foster family. But even in those dark early days, she now sees how God’s hand was protecting her, leading her to a foster mother who would show her unconditional love. Her foster mum, a devout Christian, welcomed Kim into a family that already had three biological children and two other foster kids. This act of love gave Kim a glimpse of the kind of care and stability she had never known before, and it planted the first seeds of faith in her heart.
Kim was placed in foster care as a temporary solution, intended to last only until her biological mother could regain custody. For Kim, however, that reunion never came. By the time she was 11 years old, it became clear that her mother would never be able to take her back, and her foster family formally adopted her. Though overjoyed at finally having a permanent home, Kim couldn’t shake the lingering fear of abandonment. “When I was a kid, I thought I had to be perfect,” she recalls. “I knew my foster parents loved me, but because I never got that love from my biological mother, I always feared they might send me back to the state.
Although her biological mother wasn’t completely out of her life, the visits were often confusing and distressing. Kim remembers how, at just five years old, the social workers would cut visits short, giving her a book to read that could explain it in terms a child could understand. “I read a story about a mama elephant who would get sick every time she went to the lake,” Kim says. “That was their way of telling me that my mother had been drinking again.”
A tragic but pivotal moment came when Kim was 11 years old—her mother was imprisoned for attempted murder while intoxicated. While it was a sad chapter, it brought Kim an unexpected sense of peace. She knew her mother was safe behind bars, and for the first time, she could breathe a little easier.
Despite the unconditional love she received from her foster parents, the scars of her early years ran deep. As a teenager, she tried to maintain a relationship with her mother, but it was always a painful struggle. “I felt like I was the one having to protect and raise her,” Kim explains. “When I was 21, I realized I couldn’t do it anymore. The constant disappointments—the lies, forgotten birthdays, missed appointments—it all became too much. So, I quit.” Though saddened by the end of that relationship, Kim saw it as a necessary step to free herself from constant hurt.
But even after cutting ties, the sense of emptiness and anxiety persisted. Desperate for relief, Kim turned to therapy, productivity books, and guided meditations. She delved into New Age practices, seeking healing through methods like spirit channeling and family constellations, where she reenacted painful family dynamics in an attempt to heal. But the peace these practices offered was fleeting. “The peace was temporary. It would last a day or two before I’d feel restless again,” she says. “I was exhausted, constantly trying to find peace and clarity, but it never lasted. I realized everyone around me was just as lost, and I thought, ‘This can’t be the way.’”
In her frustration, Kim felt more alone than ever, grappling with the belief that she had to face the world on her own. But just as she was resigning herself to this lonely reality, a conversation with a friend began to change everything. Her friend mentioned how she had given her life to Jesus, and although Kim had grown up in a Christian home, she had never seriously considered surrendering her life to God. But something shifted in her after that conversation, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that she should get baptized.
Still, Kim tried to push the thought aside, clinging to the belief that she was all she had. But then another failed relationship brought her to her knees. “I was crushed,” she remembers. “I didn’t know what else to do. I cried out to God, and for the first time, I felt a peace like never before.” This peace was unlike anything she had experienced in her New Age practices—it required no effort, no striving. It simply was.
I realized that God wanted to know my heart,” she says. “But it wasn’t easy. After years of believing in New Age, I wasn’t sure I could believe in a God. But that peace... it was real. And that was the beginning of something new.
Initially, Kim was hesitant to fully embrace Jesus. Her past experiences and disappointments made it difficult to trust in something she couldn’t see. But she started small, speaking to Him every night as if talking to a close friend, sharing the details of her day and her deepest concerns. This simple practice began to shift something within her, helping her feel a growing connection to God.
Then came a moment of crisis—a setback in her business this time. In the past, such events would have sent her spiraling into anxiety, but this time was different. Instead of feeling lost, she felt an unfamiliar but comforting presence, a sense that God was with her, supporting her through the storm. This moment of clarity led her to start reading the Bible and, eventually, to walk into a church in Lisbon called Freedom City.
Her visit to Freedom City was unlike anything she had ever experienced. The preacher spoke from the book of Exodus, relaying the story of how you can take the people out of Egypt, but not Egypt out of the people. As she listened, something clicked deep inside her. She knew, without a doubt, that she was exactly where she needed to be.
Throughout this time, Kim had been going to therapy, trying to manage the pain and trauma that had plagued her for so long. But after a few visits to the church, she noticed something remarkable—her heart felt different. When her therapist asked her about the pain she had carried for years, Kim realized it was no longer there. “I could remember the pain and the sadness, but it wasn’t in my heart anymore,” she recalls. “Later that day, I saw a video on Instagram of a pastor talking about how God doesn’t always fix your heart; sometimes He just gives you a new one. And that’s exactly what it felt like. The trauma is still part of my story, but the pain is gone.
Shortly after this realization, Kim decided to be baptized, marking a new chapter in her life. Since then, she says God has continued to transform her heart, particularly in her views on having children. For a long time, she resisted the idea, fearing it would rob her of her freedom. But as she grew closer to God, she began to understand that her reluctance stemmed from her own childhood fears and the deep-seated pain of knowing her mother had once considered aborting her.
Now, renewed in Christ, Kim sees things differently. She recognizes how God has always been there, protecting her from a difficult upbringing to the challenges of adulthood. What once seemed like random, painful experiences now make sense, fitting together into a bigger picture of God’s plan for her life. She also acknowledges the role her foster mother played in laying the foundation for her faith journey, showing her a glimpse of God’s love early on.
After years of searching, Kim finally feels she can trust in something greater than herself—something that will never fail her. She remembers the trauma and hurt she has endured, but now she knows where to turn for healing: Jesus and His finished work on the cross. Reflecting on her journey, she shares, “You don’t know how many times I’ve cried because His love is so overwhelming. It’s unlike anything else. It’s okay to have desires, but it’s about opening your heart, trusting Him, and letting Him work in you. For me, I had to take my hands off my life so He could put His hands on me. That’s what surrender is—letting go and giving Him the space to work within you. You have to talk to Him, give Him all your troubles, fears, and everything—the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Her biggest realization through it all is that she never gave up on herself because God was always with her, even in her darkest moments. Her advice to others is simple yet profound: “Don’t give up. Surrender to God, because He’s always there, ready to overwhelm you with His love and grace. He is a good Father.
Check out Biblical Truth Versus New Age, Discovering Your True Identity, and The Trap of Perfectionism in our Resources section.
Sign up for our Newsletter to stay informed of New Stories and Events.