Kanta Khanna and her family had been eagerly looking forward to their trip to Kashmir in the nineteen nineties. It was meant to be a time of rest, joy, and family bonding. But what started as a simple vacation soon turned into a terrifying ordeal—one that would test Kanta’s faith like never before.
A sudden nightmare
After visiting a family friend, Kanta, her husband, their teenage daughter, and young son entered a tourist taxi to return to their hotel. But before they could even settle in, they noticed a crowd had gathered outside. Then, in a shocking turn of events, two unknown men from the crowd forced their way into the car. Armed and in control, the men took them hostage.
“As the driver started the car, I realized what was happening. We had been kidnapped,” Kanta recalled. Fear gripped her heart, but amidst the chaos, she instinctively turned to God.
Obeying God’s voice in a crisis
Kanta’s husband fell silent and began to pray. She, too, cried out to God, desperately seeking help. In this crisis, she heard God’s voice clearly, instructing her step by step.
“As I prayed, I heard a still, small voice guiding me,” she said. “It was calm, firm, and convincing. I felt the Lord instructing me to engage the kidnappers in conversation, to tell them we were just tourists, and to address them as brothers.”
Despite her fear, she obeyed. She began talking to them, sharing about her family, their background, and their visit. To her surprise, the kidnappers listened.
A Moment of life or death
The car eventually stopped in a secluded area, where more men were waiting in an auto-rickshaw. The situation had escalated. Again, Kanta felt God’s voice instructing her. She asked her husband to step out and talk to the new group of men. Meanwhile, she considered offering her gold bangles in exchange for their release—but the voice stopped her. “I heard Jesus warning me against it, saying the men had no use for my gold” she recalled.
At that moment, her little son began to cry. Panic surged through her—what if the noise angered the kidnappers? But again, she felt the Lord speaking: Do not make a noise, or you will be killed. Without hesitation, she gently placed her hand over her son’s mouth, silencing his cries.
A Miraculous Change of Heart
As her husband spoke with the captors, Kanta noticed one of them kiss his hand in an unexpected gesture. Fear flooded her—was this a sign they were about to be killed? She quickly pulled her dupatta over her head and began to pray. In that moment, she remembered the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. A deep peace washed over her as she felt God reminding her of His protection. One of the kidnappers, intrigued by her prayers, asked her about her faith. She shared the story of Daniel—his unwavering trust in God, and how the Lord had shut the lions’ mouths to save him. The response was astonishing. The men’s hearts softened. They folded their hands, apologized, and called her “sister.” In an act of mercy, they let the entire family go—unharmed.
A Renewed Faith
Kanta returned home forever changed from the expereince. She knew that it wasn’t luck or chance that had saved them—it was the voice of God and her obedience to it. Filled with gratitude, she placed her earrings at the altar, offering them in thanksgiving. She had learned what true faith meant: trusting Jesus completely, even in the hardest times. “I saw how knowing Him helped me hear His voice, follow His guidance, and experience His miraculous help,” she said.
Kanta’s story is more than a testimony of survival. It is a powerful reminder that God speaks, even in life’s darkest moments—and when we listen, He leads us to a breakthrough.
