I imagine most of my readers have been following at least some of the story of Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old, frail mother Nancy, who was violently taken from her Tucson home in the middle of the night, over eight weeks ago.
Opinions are varied over whether this was a kidnapping for ransom, despite various notes sent to the media and the family. Any communication from the Guthrie family to any alleged kidnappers has gone unanswered.
So, the family is left with the devastating reality that their beloved “mommy” is no longer alive. And yet, the desire to find some answers – and to somehow get her body returned for a proper memorial – is completely understandable.
I can’t begin to imagine the horror this family has been living through for nearly two months. My heart breaks for them and I’ve joined many from around the world in praying for some resolution, heart wrenching though it may be.
Recently Savannah spoke with her friend and former colleague, Hoda Kotb, about what these past weeks have been like for her and her family. It’s a raw, emotional, tear-filled interview, as we would expect.
However, Savannah’s faith shines through her tears. She is clinging to God through the very worst days of her life. Despite the anguish, she refuses to let that be the last word – to let these kidnappers inflict any more wounds on her or her loved ones.
When she spoke those powerful, evil-defying words, “My joy will be my protest,” my eyes filled with tears and I wanted to jump up and shout, “Amen, sister! Do not let evil take anything more from you!”
While very few of us will have to deal with the murder of a loved one, or the possibility of never finding any answers, no one escapes heartache or tragedy in this life.
It’s one of the hallmarks of my grief ministry and it speaks to the inevitability of trials and sorrow either sprinkled throughout our lives or, at times, flooding them.
What can – and should – be our response to this reality? Perhaps not in the midst of the devastation, and perhaps not for years past it, but if we have a solid faith in the God who brings growth from fire, beauty from ashes, we must eventually land where Savannah has.
We refuse to let our most devastating circumstances ultimately steal our joy.
That little green tree in the image? That’s the hope that new life can and will be breathed into whatever situation we find ourselves in – despite the depth of the tragedy.
Now I know God is always doing infinitely more than we can ever imagine in every circumstance.
But I want to highlight at least one “green tree” emerging from Savannah’s brokenness.
The faith in God that she witnessed in her mother’s life – and the faith she is now clinging to throughout this tragedy – are being seen by untold millions across multiple platforms.
The model of hope that she represents through these moments with Hoda is speaking truth to others who may be clinging to their last vestige of hope.
Might this be just one example of how God is bringing about beauty from ashes? It’s not simply a cliché; it’s the assurance of what God does when it seems that evil has won.
Where Savannah landed – and where we all must ultimately land, when we don’t know how to take that next step – is shown beautifully in the Gospel of John. Jesus is talking with his twelve disciples after many of his followers had turned away.
He asked the twelve if they wanted to leave as well. Peter’s response in John 6:68 is powerful and full of truth:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
He alone is our Protector, our Provider, our Comforter and, ultimately, our Victor over death.
May we all embrace this truth whenever trials and tragedies come knocking on our doors.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9