Yet for many, this beautiful design is tragically broken. Instead of love, families can become a place of hostility. Instead of unity, division takes root. Instead of truth, lies dominate. One devastating example of this breakdown is what we call narcissistic family mobbing.

To understand Narcissistic Family Mobbing, watch this video and then read on.

It is a form of collective bullying in a dysfunctional family system, where one member is unfairly targeted and abused by other family members, often at the instigation of a narcissistic parent or relative. This dynamic creates a “scapegoat” who becomes the focus of blame for all the family’s problems, deflecting attention away from the real sources of dysfunction.

At the heart of this pattern lies deception. Jesus said of Satan that “when he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Narcissistic family mobbing thrives on lies—rumors, false accusations, twisted perceptions—and these lies serve to wound, divide, and destroy.

The Relationship Dynamics: 

• The central narcissist: A domineering family member who controls through fear, rage, and manipulation, maintaining a facade of perfection.

• The flying monkeys (enablers): Siblings or relatives who support the bullying, whether out of fear or desire to secure favor.

• The scapegoat: The individual singled out for blame, often the one who refuses to conform to the family’s distorted reality, frequently the most empathetic or truth-telling member.

This system mirrors the ancient biblical pattern of scapegoating: placing blame on one in order to cover the sins of many (Leviticus 16). But unlike God’s ordained foreshadowing of Christ as the true scapegoat who bore sin to bring life, narcissistic mobbing heaps false blame on the innocent, crushing them under a burden they were never meant to carry.

The weapons of mobbing are many: gaslighting, scapegoating, isolation, verbal aggression, triangulation, rumor-spreading, even digital harassment. Each tactic works to undermine the victim’s sense of reality, dignity, and belonging. These tools are not merely human strategies—they echo the enemy’s schemes, for the devil seeks only to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). The trauma left behind can be profound.

The Impact:

• Depression and anxiety from years of judgment, isolation and gaslighting.

• Low self-esteem and self-doubt as lies get internalized.

• PTSD from repeated cycles of judgment and abuse.

• Emotional invalidation that makes it difficult to trust one’s own feelings.

• Trust issues that erode relationships even outside this family.

• Spiritual abuse which masks the love of God with shifting human standards of spirituality.

Narcissistic family mobbing is evil and often devastates the targeted individual for life. But into this despair, God speaks comfort: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). The victim of mobbing is not abandoned. Christ Himself was despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3), and He stands in solidarity with those who suffer unjustly.

Strategies for Breaking Free:

Healing from narcissistic family mobbing is neither simple nor easy, but with God’s help it is possible.

• Set and enforce strong boundaries. Scripture calls us to guard our hearts (Proverbs 4:23). Protecting your well-being is not selfish—it is godly stewardship.

• Limit contact if needed. Just as Jesus withdrew from hostile crowds, so too may we withdraw from destructive environments.

• Seek outside support. God places us in the wider Body of Christ so that we may “carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).

• Practice self-care and renewal. Jesus invites us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

• Recognize and validate your feelings. Pour out your heart to God (Psalm 62:8) and know He receives you with compassion.

• Observe, don’t absorb. The mobbing reflects the family’s dysfunction, not your worth. In Christ, your identity is secure: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).

If you have been the scapegoat, I see you. I lived this nightmare for decades. Through prayer, counseling and boundaries, I have finally begun to heal. I am no longer defined by the false accusations of our family but only defined by the truth of God’s Word. My Heavenly Father calls me chosen, beloved, and redeemed. What others meant for harm, He can use for good (Genesis 50:20). I choose to believe that no weapon formed against me will prevail (Isaiah 54:17).

My life is now in a new chapter where my worth in Christ steadies me and releases me to soar without fear. The chains of narcissism are broken not because others changed but because I  am taking intentional steps to forgive and heal. 

If you are struggling under the weight of narcissism, I want to encourage you today – your story is not over. God is a God of restoration, and He promises to rebuild the broken places, to give beauty for ashes, and to turn mourning into joy (Isaiah 61:3–4). Surrender your suffering to Him and intentionally start your healing journey one breath at a time. There is hope!

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We bring before You every son or daughter wounded by narcissistic family mobbing. Lord, You see the pain, the lies, the low self-worth and the rejection. Pour Your healing truth into their hearts. Silence every false tongue raised against them, and replace lies with Your unshakable Word. Wrap them in Your love, remind them of their worth, and give them strength to walk in freedom. Surround them with safe people, restore what was lost, and bring beauty out of their ashes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You are not the lies spoken about you—you are the beloved child of the Living God.

African American Viewers: Saw it as a powerful assertion of Black identity, with imagery like the divided American flag in HUMBLE symbolizing systemic struggles.

General Public: Some celebrated Lamar’s artistry, while others felt the performance was too politically charged or overshadowed by his rap feud.

Conservative News Channels and Viewers: Criticized the show as divisive, framing it as part of the NFL’s broader shift toward diversity and inclusion.

Online Reactions: Many praised Lamar’s ability to balance entertainment with deeper messages, while others saw the inclusion of Not Like Us as a direct challenge to Drake.

Serena Williams, a Compton native like Lamar, joined him during Not Like Us, performing the Crip Walk, a move she famously did after her Olympic win. Given her past rumored relationship with Drake, her presence was widely interpreted as symbolic support for Lamar in their feud.

Sports analysts noted that Lamar’s performance signified the NFL’s evolution since Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 firing after his silent protest against police brutality. What was once controversial—protesting systemic injustice—was now center stage at the league’s biggest event. The show reflected how much the NFL has changed in eight years, embracing artists willing to engage with social issues.

Lamar’s halftime show was a defining moment in hip-hop and sports culture, mixing artistic mastery with social critique. Whether seen as a celebration of progress or a polarizing statement, it cemented his status as a cultural force. However, unless Lamar himself provides insight into his intentions, the performance remains open to interpretation. Each perspective likely holds some truth, but without his explanation, the deeper layers of his choreography, symbolism, and choices remain speculative.

Similarly, interpretations of the Bible, God’s infallible Word, have led to various denominations, writings, and worship styles worldwide. So how do we determine biblical truth? Is it shaped by culture? Are we influenced by historical biases? Is Scripture poetic, historical, or metaphorical? Just as Lamar’s performance sparked diverse interpretations, so too does the Bible—depending on one’s background, perspective, and openness to understanding through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some conservative viewers struggled to grasp Lamar’s message because they lacked familiarity with him and had no interest in his cultural background, which shaped his performance. Likewise, if we approach Scripture without historical, cultural, and spiritual understanding, we may miss what God is truly saying. Proverbs 4:7 reminds us, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

The Pharisees had immense knowledge of God’s law but lacked true understanding. Jesus rebuked them because they read Scripture but did not see Him in it. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me (John 5:39). Likewise, if we rely solely on human reasoning or personal bias, we risk misinterpreting God’s Word. Without a relationship with the Author and Creator, we will go astray. The key to biblical interpretation is loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). Every interpretation should lead us to Jesus and His truth.

Scripture itself is not fluid—it stands unchangeable throughout time and culture. Jesus affirms this in Matthew 5:18, For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. The New Testament is also historically validated, with more manuscript evidence than any other ancient text.

However, while Scripture remains unchanged, our understanding of it can deepen as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. We must also be clear that in the essentials of the gospel, we must be firm and united (One Lord, one faith, one baptism – Ephesians 4:5). The Nicene Creed succinctly outlines these essentials. In all else, we must interpret with humility and charity.

Every biblical interpretation should lead us to humbly love and serve our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). We must be careful not to weaponize our interpretations against others, as that can cause spiritual harm. Instead, we should listen, learn, and remain open to God’s sanctifying work in us. Philippians 2:3 reminds us, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Maturity in faith often requires reevaluating our perspectives as we grow in understanding.

If Lamar’s performance teaches us anything, it is that people will always interpret things differently. The more we know and understand the Author of the Bible, the more accurately we will interpret His Word. Thankfully, in faith matters, we have an advantage: the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth (John 16:13). Without Him at the center of our understanding, we risk missing the very heart of God—just as the Pharisees did.

We should be open to learning and willing to allow God to shape our understanding, recognizing that My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8). Our goal in interpreting the Bible is not to win theological arguments but to know and glorify God and to humbly make His love known to a lost world through our actions.

Before Israel had a human king, it was a theocracy—God Himself ruled over His people. He delivered them from Egypt, led them through the wilderness, and granted them victory when they trusted Him (Exodus 14:14, Joshua 6). However, they grew restless, wanting a king like the surrounding nations. In 1 Samuel 8:4-7, the elders approached Samuel, saying, “Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

Samuel was displeased, but God told him, “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” (1 Samuel 8:7) Their request was a rejection of God’s rule. They wanted a visible leader, relying on human strength rather than divine wisdom.

God granted their request. However, perhaps He wanted to show them the consequences of their rebellion, so He gave them Saul – a Benjamite (1 Samuel 9:1-2), rather than going with His redemptive plan through the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10). Saul looked the part—tall, strong, and charismatic—but his heart was not fully devoted to God. His reign was marked by disobedience, notably when he spared King Agag despite God’s command (1 Samuel 15:9-11). This act foreshadowed future conflicts, including Haman’s attempt to destroy the Jews in Esther’s time.

After Saul’s failure, God chose David, a humble shepherd from Judah (1 Samuel 13:14). Unlike Saul, David was “a man after God’s own heart.” His chosen kingship was a step toward fulfilling God’s redemptive plan. God promised David that his throne would endure forever, pointing to Jesus, the true King from the line of Judah (2 Samuel 7:16).

Israel’s rebellious demand for a king which God granted led to turmoil and exile (see Psalm 106:15). But God in His mercy corrected course giving them King David. He also preserved this lineage through Queen Esther despite Haman the Aggagite’s attempt to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth. Ultimately, as prophesied, from the line of Judah came Jesus, the King of kings, who would bring salvation to the world.

This truth is relevant to us today too. A nation’s people most often choose leaders based on human reasoning rather than truly seeking God’s heart on the matter. What looks good to people may not be God’s will at all as seen in the example above and can potentially yield long term harm to the nation. We may even be rejecting God as we demand for certain leaders like the Israelites did. Remember, they did not even realize that they had rejected God when they made their demand.

But thank God that despite our failures, He always watches over us, drawing us back into His will. “He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” Daniel 2:21

So, rather than demanding what seems humanly wise or best in the moment, we should fervently seek God’s wisdom regarding our nation’s leadership through a surrender of our wills along with fasting and praying. Our prayer should echo Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

When we seek God’s will and trust in His sovereignty, we align ourselves with His eternal purposes. He alone sees the big picture, the beginning from the end. So, for true prosperity a nation must trust His will not theirs! 

A recent case that came to my attention highlights this concern. 18,000 illegal immigrants from India were identified for deportation, with the first group of 104 arriving in Amritsar this past week in accordance with the amicable agreement by the two governments. Although the deportation itself is accepted to be within the rights of the U.S., reports that these individuals—who were not criminals—were chained and subjected to inhumane treatment during a 40-hour military flight have sparked outrage in India. I saw similar situations develop in deportations to other Latin American countries too.

Compassion and enforcement are not mutually exclusive, and the way our country treats these people—regardless of their legal status—reflects on our core values. The way its citizens react to this misfortune of people from other lands reflects our true character. As of today, we are officially deemed a Christian nation. So what does the Bible say about this topic?

In Acts 17:21-28, Paul stood before the Athenians and declared that the God who made the world is sovereign over all people, placing them in their specific times and lands so they might seek Him and know Him. This powerful passage reminds us that every human soul regardless of nationality, legal status, or social standing is created and placed by God with the sole purpose of knowing Him.

Yet today, many who profess Christ celebrate the harsh treatment of immigrants, often overlooking the biblical call to justice, mercy, and dignity. So we must ask: ourselves if in the name of safety and security, or even imposing the law, can we as Christians really rejoice in the mishaps, mistakes or suffering of others? 

God’s Sovereignty Over Nations and Peoples:

Paul tells the Athenians that God determines the times and places where people live (Acts 17:26, Athens had people from many nations). This means, according to Scripture, no one arrives in a country, a city, or a community by accident. If we truly believe this, then every immigrant whether documented or undocumented is here in the US under God’s providence. Their presence should be seen as an opportunity for them to encounter Christ. This is a heart issue for us Christians. Rather than viewing immigrants as threats, we must see them as people whom God has placed near us, perhaps so that we can share the Gospel with them. We are not merely citizens of our country, the US, but we are citizens of a far greater kingdom, (Philippians 3:20), and our primary mission given to us by our sovereign King and Lord Jesus is to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) for there is no other name on earth by which a person can gain eternal life. 

Justice and Mercy: The Heart of Christianity

Yes, nations must have laws, and borders must be maintained. The Bible does not promote lawlessness. Romans 13:1-7 speaks of submitting to governing authorities, and law and order are necessary for a functioning society. However, biblical justice is radically different.

Scripture is clear that God commands justice tempered with mercy:

• Deuteronomy 10:18-19  “God executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
• Micah 6:8  “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”
• Matthew 25:35-40  “Jesus identifies with the stranger and the marginalized, saying, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”

When we rejoice in the harsh treatment of immigrants, especially when families are torn apart without hearings, or when people are treated as criminals for simply seeking refuge, we reject God’s command to love the sojourner and treat them with dignity. A nation may enforce laws, but a Christian must advocate for justice with compassion. Even as justice is played out, our hearts must break knowing that millions of lives will be upended by these deportations. 

Haman’s Gallows: A Warning 

As I was studying the book of Esther in my Bible study, I was struck by Haman’s hatred for the Jewish people, a people who were also living in Persia, a land that was not ethnically theirs. In Esther 5, Haman built gallows believing that he would be destroying Mordecai, followed by the kingdom’s Jewish people. He celebrated their impending downfall, confident in his own power, rights and might. Yet in the end, the very trap he built became his own demise.

This story is a sobering warning to those who take joy in the suffering of others. When we celebrate the deportation of illegal immigrants especially when families are separated without due process we act in the spirit of Haman rather than in the spirit of Christ. We must remember that God values the vulnerable and defends the oppressed (Psalm 146:9). As Christians, our role is not to cheer for the downfall of others but to reflect the love and righteousness of God. We must remember that it is only by the grace of God that we get to legally live in this wonderful country we call home. To whom much is given, much is expected—we have received mercy and grace from the hand of God, so too we should be giving it. 

Our Call: The Mission of Scripture Before the Mission of a Nation

While a nation must prioritize security and law enforcement, the Church does not exist to enforce national borders, it exists to bring people into the kingdom of God. If we lose sight of this mission, we risk exchanging the eternal purposes of Christ for the temporary politics of man and comfort of the nation.

This means:

1. We must resist the temptation to dehumanize illegal immigrants in the name of nationalism. We must be willing to view them with godly compassion—to humbly love them as God loves us even if we see them as enemies of the state.
2. We are called to minister to and care for immigrants, legal or undocumented.
3. We must pray for them.
4. We must encourage them to obey the law and willingly return to their countries.
5. To the best of our ability, we must advocate for fair and humane immigration policies.
6. We must choose to not mock, show anger or hatred or name call these people who have been created in the image of God.

We do not ignore laws, but we also do not forget that as individual Christians our highest allegiance is to the law of Christ: to love God and love our neighbor (Mark 12:30-31).

To summarize, those of us who profess the name of Christ need to stand in the gap on Christian principles of justice, mercy, and love. We should not rejoice at the suffering of immigrants but instead seek ways to show Christ’s love, even as laws are upheld. Paul’s words in Acts 17 remind us that every person is placed by God with a purpose. Instead of seeing immigrants as problems, we should start seeing them as divine appointments. If we truly believe in eternity, our first thought should not be about America’s greatness but about whether these souls have encountered the love of Jesus.

Let us not build gallows for others but instead build bridges to Christ. We love because He first loved us!

My beloved grandmother, Pattima, died in the first week of December over a decade ago and my family’s hearts were broken as we loved her so much.  We had a memorial service here at church and then had to go a week later for her funeral in Los Angeles. It had been a stressful and exhausting 5 months of terminal illness caregiving Pattima in our home while also facing friction. I was filled with deep grief at her loss, while also trying to console my children who were crushed. In essence, I was crumbling with the weight of it all.

We had to go to Bangalore soon after despite the overwhelming grief and exhaustion to celebrate Peter’s parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. Despite an antagonistic relationship, we had been the main proponents of a joyous anniversary celebration to honor them and make them happy. We had to push ourselves to be there on time so as to help prep and pay for most of the two big celebrations they desired – but our grieving hearts cried for postponement. I am so glad we were able to put our grief aside to honor Peter’s parents. The grand celebrations beautifully brought many friends and family together filling them with great joy. We ofcourse had to pay a hefty change fee plus the extra cost of rebooking at last minute prices for our tickets. This was on the heels of last minute funeral tickets for the family to go to California.

As we were making all these changes, we realized that leaving Mum and Dad alone for the next month here in Redmond during the Christmas holidays while they were grieving would have been too overwhelming for them, especially for Mum.  So we decided to buy them last minute India tickets and asked them to join us.  We made sure we took care of all their needs there in Bangalore as we wanted to give them some joy and rest in an extremely hard grieving season for Mum. They were able to visit many of their older relatives on that trip which brought her great comfort. The trip was a balm to her hurting soul and they returned rejuvenated.

I am sure there must be other times we  missed stepping out but this was one critical time we can see and be glad that we loved well on all sides, especially since we will never have such opportunities again. Looking back I don’t know how we pulled it all off in the midst of my own grief and stress along with comforting our kids in their grief and end of semester tests along with the  financial pressure as we were living off only one income (Sandeep had just started college too)! Added to that, we desperately needed a family vacation as with elder-care responsibilities and virtual schooling, we had not taken any vacations in a long time and were very tired. Everything in me screamed rest, and pampering but thankfully love and duty won instead.

“Joy and sorrow are never separated. When our hearts rejoice, we also know that somewhere, someone weeps. When we experience pain, we trust that someone else is being healed.” – Henri Nouwen

This experience has taught us many valuable life lessons, more so since we now walk in our parents’ shoes and we see the importance of giving and receiving loving care even more in this stage of life. That joy and sorrow can coexist and that making room for both in our hearts is important. That we can rejoice and celebrate with those who rejoice but that we must also sacrificially care for and weep with those who weep. May God continue to help us see our fellow human beings’ needs through His eyes. May we also learn to do good to those who hurt us even as we serve those who love us. May we daily die to self so we may live in love and service for that alone leads to eternal rewards. The time to care is now for tomorrow is not guaranteed. Reminder to self: I can truly love and selflessly serve only because He (Jesus) first loved me and served me by laying down His life for me! His resurrection power is mine to avail as I sacrificially serve.

This excerpt from the Holocaust Encyclopedia website was an eye opener to me. The bold is mine for emphasis:

Most Christian leaders in Germany welcomed the rise of N—-ism in 1933. They did not speak out against hateful speech or violence. After 1933, most did not speak out against legal measures that progressively stripped Jews of their rights. Some church leaders, particularly within the highly nationalistic “German Christian” movement of the main Protestant church, enthusiastically supported the N—- regime.

Only a small minority of religious leaders, ministers, and priests, usually in isolated parishes, spoke out against N—- racism, gave Sunday sermons decrying the persecution of Germany’s Jews, provided aid, or hid Jews. Without the support of their leaders and institutions, voices of dissent had little effect on government policy. Churches across Germany also helped facilitate the implementation of racial laws.

… Clergy and church leaders were also influenced by larger political and social trends in Germany after World War I, including rising nationalism and communist movements. Churches viewed communism as the antithesis of Christianity.…Support for the repression of communism and the need to restore Germany’s economy and status as a world power after World War I usually outweighed church leaders’ distaste for the racial, ethnically based nationalist, and pagan views many of them saw in N—ism.

On November 9–10, 1938, N—i leaders unleashed a series of pogroms against the Jewish population in Germany and recently incorporated territories. No prominent church leaders publicly protested these violent assaults. And in this, they shared the complicity of university, business, and military leaders who were also silent during such events even when many disapproved of them…By the late 1930s, the N—i regime had total control of public discourse and public spaces. The tools of repression were already in place.

Analyzing what we just read, the majority of the German church (professing Christians) chose making Germany great again by restoring its economy and status as a world power over obeying God by standing up against oppression, racism, and nationalism.

History shows that the German church leadership lacked moral courage because of profound Biblical ignorance, unbelief and self-centeredness. Christians not only cooperated with the regime, a large percentage even celebrated it, believing that N—ism was a Christian movement.

Their legitimate reasoning was that Germany was feeling violated by the Treaty of Versailles, which had brought an unhappy end to WWI and served as a stimulus to WWII. H——r regaled them and won them over by bringing them out of the Great Depression with promises of greater economic prosperity. German Christianity was largely compromised by German nationalism. In other words, they bought into his propaganda!

This is scary and should give us reason to pause. Can history repeat itself? Different continent, different century, different players, different scenario….for the Bible says, “there is nothing new under the sun”. So absolutely, “YES”! If we are professing Christians, the capital C church, where are our hearts and actions? How would God judge us? How would history look back on us?

We are told in Scripture, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” (Eph‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭10‬)

Do we earnestly seek truth especially in the reflection of God’s love we say we have in how we want marginalized groups to be treated? Remember, over the centuries, Christians believed that Jews were evil people because they had put Jesus to death and so they felt justified in mocking them, mistreating them and even death sentencing them. So too, we could be treating some marginalized groups whom we dislike because “they are horrible sinners” unlike ourselves. Often our snarky comments, sneers, jeers and even hateful rhetoric reveals that our hearts believe that they are inferior, well deserving of our derision and justice. We fail to see them as human beings created in the image of God. So, like the Christians in Germany, we too may get caught up in the rhetoric of the day which might bring great harm and anguish to thousands of faceless people – who are very human and precious to the Lord.

May we humbly and honestly examine our hearts in light of Scripture so that we, the “Church” (professing Christians) are always found on the right side of history – on the side of our Savior, our Good Shepherd, our Almighty God but also on the side of the Fearful Judge. May we live in obedience like only eternity matters with the goal of establishing His kingdom alone.

“And He (Jesus) said…, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”” ‭‭(Matt‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭39‬) ‭

Applying these truths, to our election cycle that just got done. It was politics as usual. Lies were freely told, morality was shucked, fake news propagated, and God’s name used and misused. There was a lot of harmful rhetoric against minority groups, lots of contempt and ridicule against “evil” thrown around. Many Christians accepted this silently while others joined in adding their own scorn on social media, at Bible studies or while socializing. Very few stood against the tide pointing their fellow Christians back to Jesus. Now it’s done. Irrespective of the outcome, it is not a time to rejoice for the people of God – too much has been compromised and too much is at stake.

The Bible reminds us in Daniel 2:21 that it is God who appoints authority and establishes powers of nations over us – so it’s our responsibility to pray for President Trump and his party irrespective of how we voted or feel about his election. But we also need to be grieving deeply at the spiritual state of our country and the immense harm this election has done to us all – personally and collectively. It has pushed many Christians to sell out Jesus (some while using His name), it has pitted brother against brother and it has heaped hurt and harm on the marginalized. It has brought us face to face with our true treasures – country and economy, safety and peace, reasoning and rights. These have clearly outweighed God and His Truth! (Reread the parallels with the German church as seen in the excerpt above from the Holocaust Encyclopedia).

If as we humbly examine our hearts today, allowing only the Holy Spirit to gently speak God’s Truth to us, we find ourselves on the wrong side of history, then God lovingly calls us to repentance, to turn back to Him, to turn back to Love. His grace is sufficient. We can then, look back in awe at Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Cory Ten Boom’s family and others who shut out their country’s propaganda to become the brave minority who willingly stood up to fight for God’s right instead of their own comfort and follow suit. They laid down their very lives for the marginalized who walked in their midst. They chose to make Jesus great again instead of their country and so can we!

Will we repent and fall on the mercy of God before it’s too late? Will we be a willing Bonhoeffer of our day, even lonely voices speaking up against harmful rhetoric? Will we willingly laying down our desires and comforts like Jesus did for those who are being marginalized or oppressed without judging them? Will we stop blindly following the propagandized “Church”? A hundred years from now, if someone was researching the Christian response to our 2024 elections, will we Christians be found on the right side?

25 years have passed since Diwakar officially became Sandeep Nathaniel Thomas. 25 years since I had the privilege of becoming a mother and Peter, a father. 25 years of God giving a little boy who was lost and feeling hopeless, eternal hope! Can you believe it? 25 years since he entered our family!

I almost missed testifying of God’s amazing grace in the midst of our many sorrows and griefs in the season we find ourselves in.  These are losses that bring us to tears, losses that inflict our very souls and make us crumble. Yet we know that there is a time for everything and this is a time to lay down our garments of mourning and put on our robes of rejoicing for God has done a marvelous thing!

Sandeep was loved and wanted by us before he even knew us…a child for whom we had prayed and waited for while he was confused and lost…a child for whom we would lay down our hopes and desires….because he was our chosen SON! That was enough for that covenantal bond to be formed. We desired that nothing he did was ever going to separate us…because he was ours!

Truth be told, we are sinful human beings who failed many times as parents. We had no idea how to parent a severely traumatized 6 year old who hated being with us..a child who was deeply grieving the loss of his first family. We did our very best with our limitations and prayed for God’s mercy.

So why am I rejoicing today? Because I was a spiritual orphan who had no eternal hope and my God loved me, chose me, redeemed me paying a very high price (His life) and gave me value and hope as His daughter! Just as Sandeep (and Sneha) came away from their lostness into our family and home, so too, I have the privilege of being a part of God’s family with Him picking me up when I fall, correcting me when I fail and loving me through the ups and downs of my life. I rejoice in this guaranteed hope of living eternally in my Father’s house soon. I also rejoice because as His child, I can rest assured that He has a good plan for us. He can take bring beauty from the ashes of all our lives. He chose Sandeep to be our son and it will be Jesus who will be faithful to complete the good work in his life! Sandeep can run confident that God holds him. That is GRACE!

That’s why we rejoice today despite our sorrow. We are grateful that God chose us to be Sandeep’s parents and we get front row seats to see Him work in his life. We are grateful that God has held onto him in very tangible ways over the years. We are grateful God has helped him navigate life with courage and compassion. We are grateful that God brought Shirley to him. We are grateful for love and relationship. We are grateful for his hard work. We are grateful for the sacrificial love he poured out on Pattima and Thatha the past few years. We would have lost so much if we had not stepped out in faith to shadow the grace of our God that we had experienced.

Would you please pray for Sandeep? Pray for him to rest in God’s love and to grow in faith and surrender to his Lord. Pray that God will give him the desires of his heart in accordance with God’s perfect will. Pray that he will be used by God to be a light in this dark world. “Sandeep” means light, God’s light. “Nathaniel” means gift from God. Please pray that God will be found faithful in Sandeep’s life on the mountaintops and in the valleys of his life. Pray for his dear wife, Shirley…pray that their home will be a place of refuge for the ones in need of God’s love and grace.

Sing “Grace Alone” with me today! Its one of Sandeep’s favorite songs too!

I was an orphan lost at the fall
Running away when I’d hear Your call
But Father, You worked Your will
I had no righteousness of my own
I had no right to draw near Your throne
But Father, You loved me still
And in love before You laid the world’s foundation
You predestined to adopt me as Your own
You have raised me so high above my station
I’m a child of God by grace and grace alone

You left Your home to seek out the lost
You knew the great and terrible cost
But Jesus, your face was set
I worked my fingers down to the bone
Nothing I did could ever atone
But Jesus, You paid my debt
By Your blood I have redemption and salvation
Lord, You died that I might reap what You have sown
And You rose that I might be a new creation
I am born again by grace and grace alone

I was in darkness all of my life
I never knew the day from the night
But Spirit, You made me see
I swore I knew the way on my own
Head full of rocks, a heart made of stone
But Spirit, You moved in me
At your touch my sleeping spirit was awakened
On my darkened heart the light of Christ has shone
Called into a kingdom that cannot be shaken
Heaven’s citizen by grace and grace alone

So I’ll stand in faith by grace and grace alone
I will run the race by grace and grace alone
I will slay my sin by grace and grace alone
I will reach the end by grace and grace alone!

-Dustin Kensrue

Learn how to practically help those in need by downloading e-book Helping the Hurting.

The one-page PDF, 5 Minutes to Hope has the things she does when she is struggling. Download it here.

• She has written a blog article: Do you Hate Asking for Help? 

I quickly went to pick up my son from his elementary school and then tried contacting my Uncle and Aunt who were to have left at 8:15am on a transcontinental flight from La Guardia airport in NY to Los Angeles, CA. We had heard by then that all the flights which had been hijacked that morning and used as weapons by the terrorists were transcontinental ones. We fearfully waited until we were finally able to make them contact with them. Thankfully, theirs and all other flights had been grounded minutes after the attacks began. New York was under siege.  A few hours later, after passing through many checkpoints, they drove safely to our home.

By then, we heard that a third plane had crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth had been forced to crash in Pennsylvania because of the bravery of quick thinking, super heroic passengers. We had many friends and family who worked in the city so we spent the next few hours calling and tracking them. Thankfully, everyone we knew survived though some had PTSD from the happenings that day.

That morning of 9/11 changed us all in America forever, more so those of us who lived in the tri-state area. Life seemed to come to a stand still. It was a surreal feeling watching the replays of the towers collapsing on repeat on every TV channel. No one knew what was going on – there was just a pervading sense of gloom, dread and sadness all around us. Our neighborhood came out that evening, shocked looks on every face, with words eluding all of us as we were trying to process what had happened. That weekend, our church was packed and overflowing. People were afraid and knew that some things were above their pay grade so they went seeking after God for answers. It was terrifying to know that the terrorist sleeper cells had existed less than half hour away from our home.

Life did change and we lost the sense of peace and security that we had taken for granted all our lives. Our soldiers were soon deployed to Iraq – America became a nation at war! We were surrounded by death and sadness but also many stories of bravery and courage started to emerge! We did not take life for granted any more. Life was fragile. Our safety and security was unsure. We realized that God was our only strong foundation and our refuge in our times of need.

Twenty years have come and gone since that dreaded day when we lost so much. What lessons can we learn from it?

• Life is uncertain and we cannot take our tomorrows for granted. James 4:14 says, “you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” Ecclesiastes  9:12 says, “man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them.”

• People had to run from the towers as they were unsafe and came crashing down. But the Bible tells us that, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.”  Proverbs 18:10  We can call out to Him in our distress and He will give us refuge in the storm.

• If something were to happen to you, don’t you want to know for sure where you are going to be spending your eternity?  Acts 4:12 states, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved except Jesus [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6  And, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18

• God loves us even when life is hard and He seems so far away. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:38-39.

• Suffering is a guarantee in this world but we must learn to trust our Savior who knows the beginning from the end. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 and “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13

• We should be sacrificing our lives for others as we follow in Jesus’ footsteps just as He did. 9/11 brought many heroes to life. The day we are born again should be the day we willingly lay down our lives in the service of others as that would bring our Lord much glory and honor. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:16

• Eternal life in heaven is a gift of grace we long for and look forward to. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, . . . and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:1-27 and “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones as a consequence of that fateful day. I pray that they have found peace and comfort as they have grieved their losses deeply. I thank God for the protection He provided for my family and friends at that time. I hope that He finds our lives well lived for Him, worthy of this 20 year grace extension He has given us. I pray that we will always remember that only God is in control of the world, only He is worthy of worship and only He is judge of all mankind. We are but mere human beings incapable of running our own lives let alone the world. May we learn to know Him and trust Him implicitly as our futures lie firmly in His capable and loving hands. May we grieve our losses, surrender our fears and then rejoice in our salvation trusting that our God reigns and is in complete control of this world and He has a good plan which will work together for our good when we learn to love Him!

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21