When Infertility Becomes a Doorway, Not a Dead End
Guest: Kim Patton
Kim Patton is an adoptive and foster mama living in North Carolina with her husband Kevin and two daughters; Eden and Shiloh.
She writes for Waiting in Hope Infertility ministry, and Her View from Home, and has also been host of the Book Therapy Podcast since 2022.
Her second book, "Nothing Wasted: Struggling Well through Difficult Seasons" encourages readers to recognize personal growth amidst hard times.
In her free time, she can usually be found reading a memoir, taking her girls to the playground, or playing tennis with her husband.
Here’s a summary of this week’s story:
Anna Kettle speaks with Kim Patton, an adoptive and foster mother whose journey through infertility unexpectedly led her to a life of profound purpose. Kim shares how ten difficult years of waiting for pregnancy didn't end her dreams of motherhood but became a doorway to adopting two biological sisters and eventually working alongside her husband in residential care for teenage girls. She candidly discusses her struggles with anxiety, her initial resistance to adoption, and how God's patient transformation of her heart led to her embracing a life she never imagined. Through stories of moving across multiple states, managing a household with toddlers and teenagers, and finding strength in daily surrender, Kim reveals how the most difficult seasons can be worked together for good.
Key Takeaways
1. Embrace the process of surrender rather than fighting against it
Kim's journey demonstrates how becoming a "living sacrifice" isn't about instant transformation but gradual heart change. Initially resistant to foster care and adoption, she describes how God worked patiently with her, beginning with a tearful foster care seminar where she "cried 90% of the whole three hours." This willingness to be present at the foster care information session, even reluctantly, allowed God to "break her heart" and eventually transform her desires. For listeners facing unwanted life circumstances, Kim's story offers permission to acknowledge the difficulty while remaining open to how God might be reshaping desires and perspectives.
2. Find practical ways to practice dependence on God in overwhelming moments
Rather than trying to handle everything through willpower, Kim shares tangible ways she practices "absolute dependence on God" in chaotic daily life. From turning on worship music while cooking to setting boundaries by saying "I'd love to help you with your homework, but I can't right now," she illustrates how relying on God looks in practice. For listeners dealing with anxiety or overwhelm, these small but significant acts of surrender provide a roadmap for moving from self-sufficiency to God-dependency, preventing burnout and cultivating sustainable service.
3. Build a support system of prayer partners who can journey with you
Through major life transitions, Kim highlighted the importance of her "prayer friends" who supported her family's ministry with teenagers. By consistently updating specific trusted people about challenges and needs, she created a community that not only supported her but also found their own faith strengthened through witnessing God's work. Kim emphasizes that even when physically distant, these connections provided crucial spiritual and emotional support, showing listeners the value of cultivating intentional prayer relationships during difficult seasons.
Resources
Main Links
Kim Patton's website: kimpatton.com
Kim's book "Nothing Wasted: Struggling Well Through Difficult Seasons" on Amazon (both print and audiobook versions)
Book Therapy Podcast (released bi-weekly)
Ministry Links
Her View From Home (publication Kim writes for)
CROWD Church Links
CROWD Church website: crowd.church
What's the Story Podcast website: whatsthestorypodcast.com
Social Media
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