“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” That’s sort of what happened to me. Except the foundation wasn’t destroyed, it fell away. I fell down an entire flight of marble steps (10 of them) in May, without remembering how it happened. I guess my mind chose to block it out.
Hubby kept asking what had happened. And all I can say is that wandering around half asleep in a dark room with your eyes closed is not advisable! But I finally realized that’s what I’d done. Until, disoriented, I stepped off the top landing, thinking I was still in the bedroom. And stepped into nothingness (if that’s even a word).
When your foundation disappears
1. 🏰 Every stronghold crumbles
All I remember was spinning through the air, trying to grab hold of something, but nothing was there. I’m not sure at what point I hit the stairs, only that it was from a height. But I don’t remember it.
I found myself lying in a crumpled heap in the bottom landing. My first thought after realizing what a fall I’d taken was: “Oh my, I’m still alive! Jesus helped me!” And I realized I was seriously injured.
After 15 hours of tests and waiting in the ER, I finally got to see an orthopedic doctor. (Emergency rooms, it seems to me, are experts at taking forever to attend to patients.) By that time, I felt confused, exhausted, and in immense pain, in spite of the morphine they finally gave me.
2. ❓ You’re left with only confusion
That doctor advised against surgery, saying that my fracture would heal on its own with a month’s bed rest. I was alone, because with virus restrictions family members are not allowed in the ER. Even though that’s when I most needed Hubby’s support and counsel.
I chose bed rest because I was too confused to ask questions. And when the doctor said, “That’s what I would do too, if it were me,” I thought I’d made the right decision.
3. 😰 Faith wavers, discouragement and fear reign
As you can imagine, it was a rough time. Lying flat on your back for 40 days is difficult. So is inactivity, at least for me. Plus I kept dreaming that I was falling in midair. And all because the foundation that I expected to be there wasn’t.
I also felt terrible that Hubby had to do everything. Including getting me out of bed and helping me to the bathroom. We were both exhausted. And I feared remaining a burden to him if for some reason I couldn’t ever get up and return to normal living.
But Christ is a sure foundation
Well to make a long story short, I finally saw a surgeon during my first check-up after 40 days. Thankfully my shoulder blade had healed. But he scheduled emergency surgery because my crushed vertebra wasn’t healing.
Two days later I could get up and walk to the bathroom on my own. And after a couple of weeks, I could even climb the stairs!
Kyphoplasty surgery is a marvel, done with only local anesthesia, and minimally invasive. I’m grateful for it, and wish I had known about it earlier!
Three weeks later, I’m glad to report that I continue to improve. The pain is diminishing and my mobility is increasing, and I should return to normal soon. We even celebrated at our favorite pizzeria!
But God. He was there. The foundation wasn’t, but he was. And I’m sure that he caught me as I fell. We later heard of a woman in our area who had fallen down the stairs and died from a broken neck.
And with him everything changes
1. ❤️ Our heart becomes thankful
So I lay in bed and thanked him that I was still alive. I thanked him that it wasn’t worse, that Hubby was able to be home to care for me. I thanked him for the wonderful, selfless care he was giving me. And for everyone who wrote, called, and visited bringing plants, flowers, food, and so much more.
2. 🙏 Trust and faith are restored
I was in pain. A lot of pain at first. But I knew the Lord had preserved me. Why he didn’t prevent the whole thing I’ll never know. And I became grateful for the school he was putting me through, because I still have so much to learn.
I read piles of books and listened a great deal to my Youtube playlist of hymn instrumentals. I read the Word or listened to it. I called on God. I soaked in his presence, which became sweeter and sweeter as the days ticked by.
For me, the floor had disappeared – but not my foundation. Jesus, our Rock, was always there. Never failing, he is a bedrock foundation. Who answers our cries and carries our burdens.
3. ✝️ Fear and discouragement flee
With his help, I worked through my fears and discouragement. For I knew that even if I had remained bedridden or paralysed all would be OK. It would have been challenging, for sure.
But God no matter what would always be with me – in bed or walking, sick or well. And I would be resting on the firmest foundation any of us could ever have. Jesus, the solid rock.
4. 🎶 Rejoicing becomes our continual song
This became my song, my continual rejoicing:
He brought me out of the miry clay,
Henry J Zelley, 1898
He set my feet on the Rock to stay;
He puts a song in my soul today,
A song of praise, hallelujah!
And that will forever be my song. My prayer for you today is that it may be your song too. We have a solid Rock. No matter what happens or what we have to endure, he will keep us safely in his care.
Man falling by Pexels | Hand catching man by Willgard | Emojis from Emojipedia.
Signora Sheila 
Sorry to hear about your difficulty. Thrilled to hear God is your sure foundation. I will be praying for your continued strength and improvement.
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Thank you so much Karen. God has been my help and strength through it all. What ever would we do without him?
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Happy to hear you are much better! God is good!
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Thank you so much, Deborah Marie. Yes, God is so good!!
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Sheila, I am glad that you are getting better and that you took the opportunity to press into the Lord. Your hubby is amazing. Please thank him for me for his wonderful care of you. God truly had you in His hand. May our Jehovah-Rapha, God our Healer, continue to heal you completely and fill you with great joy. Karen
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Thank you so much, Karen. And I will thank him again!!
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What a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness as your firm foundation during your very difficult time. And a beautiful testimony of your faithfulness to God. I read something recently that your experience made me think of: God’s providence does not cushion His people from trials. We trust His providence and goodness even in the trials. I’m very thankful that you did just that, and also happy that you had the needed surgery and are much better. Take care, Sheila, and God’s continued blessings be yours.
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Oh, I love that quote Patty! It’s so true. We are not spared from having trials, but we can trust him in the midst of them. And that is what makes all the difference! Thank you so much for your well wishes, my friend!
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I’m so grateful the Lord held you at that moment, giving you what you needed to not sustain anything fatal. I also value your honesty in sharing the story–it’s a true miracle to see how He protected you, but the process was challenging. Thank you for your faith and faithfulness in sharing about God’s glory in and through your life. You have seen the hope of the Lord and live it. It’s an encouragement to all of us.
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Thank you, Dayle! It is so wonderful the way God worked through it all. His beyond amazing!!
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It is so good to hear from you, Sheila! It is very hard, sometimes, to let others do for us, but think of the reward that they receive for their selfless service. I think God brings so much more out of our circumstances than we can ever see this side of heaven. Praise God for your loving husband. Sounds like he is a gem.
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So true, Linda. It is hard to let others do for us, and so hard to be so dependent. I think it was a preparation course for my oldest years – a lesson in remaining agreeable in spite of pain, and all the rest. May God grant his grace if that should come. I know I’m still gleaning lessons from it all. But one thing I know for sure even more than I already did. My hubby is indeed a gem. He is the most loving and Christlike person I know. I am so blessed to walk by his side – emphasis on walk!!
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Wonderful testimony. God is good. So glad you’re doing better!
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God is good, and the way he works is indeed wonderful. Thanks for your well wishes, Nancy!
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Awesome testimony! Thank you for the great reminder to see how God can work all things out. Praying for continued healing, provision and strength
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You’re so right, Tom. God brought an awesome testimony out of a horrible situation. It’s such a blessing that he is right there with us going through even the tough things of life. Thanks for your prayers. The prayers of God’s people brought me through!!
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Hi Sheila, glad you are okay! What a fiasco 😳. You are very brave and God was so good to you. I’m isolating at home for 5 days due to an exposure to covid and I’m pouting because I want to get out and live my life. The Lord is showing me the opportunity I have to spend more time with him during these days. Blessings to you💕
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Thank you so much! You’re right – it was a fiasco. But a fiasco that I know was totally in God’s hands!! But I am not brave – I was often scared, discouraged, and impatient. My only hope was to cling to God’s hand. His strength brought me through. His hope turned my mourning into dancing (at least on the inside)!! But I know what you mean about chafing at the bit. I remember our first super strict lockdown here in Italy. (When the only other country crazy enough to do it was communist China.) How we longed to go out and about!! But I’m grateful if my post reminded you of your great opportunity to spend more time with him. How we need that. And what a good reminder it is that all works for good in him!
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Thank God you made it through! You have an amazing story. Thank you for sharing your lessons. I will need to reread this tomorrow.
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Thanks Pastor Pete. And yes, all the thanks and praise goes to God. It was tough, but God is greater than any trial we go through. I’m so grateful for all that he has done!
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Praying for you during this very difficult time. God is with you!
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Thank you so much, David. Yes, God is with me! He is ever faithful!!
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So VERY glad to hear that you are on the mend, Sheila–almost back to normal! And I love the positive approach you took toward your healing, with praise and worship, mediation and just abiding in God’s presence. You are a role model for us of saintly suffering!
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Thank you so much, Nancy. But no, I am not a model for saintly suffering. I was often afraid, discouraged, frustrated, and impatient. The only thing I was (and am) a model for is his strength made perfect in weakness, and his grace abounding more where sin abounds much. It wasn’t so much that I was able to maintain a positive approach, as it was a drowning person clinging to a life rope. I knew I wouldn’t make it on my own!! But yes, praise the Lord – I’m improving daily!!
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