LightGrams
September 24, 2026
Volume 30, Number 34
“When The Earth Gives Way”
As we walk across our yards, how often do we think to ourselves, “I hope the ground beneath my feet is firm”? I don’t ever recall thinking such a thing. We just naturally assume the ground will hold up as we head for our destination.
That’s likely how Danielle Tammone felt as she walked across her yard in Long Island, New York a few days ago. It was her 47th birthday and there were other things on her mind. But suddenly the ground beneath her feet opened up and she fell eight feet into an old abandoned well. Despite her struggles, she could not climb out as the loose soil and gravel kept giving way.
Thankfully, neighbors heard her calls for help and local rescue workers soon arrived with a ladder. Aside from some bruising and minor whiplash, Danielle is OK. “It happened so fast. And then I was just down, down in an 8-foot hole with water and sod,” she told a television news station. “It’s my birthday; this might be my death date,” she recalled thinking. Her rescuers helped calm the situation by singing “Happy Birthday” to her.
I’ve never fallen into a sinkhole, but the “ground” beneath my feet has given way. When our oldest son was nine years old, a health issue arose that could have been catastrophic. I vividly remember lying face-down on the floor, sobbing as I prayed to God for His help. We didn’t see that coming.
Why did we pray to God on that occasion? Psalm 46:1,2 instructed us to do so: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed …” That last line in the English Standard Version is translated as, “though the earth gives way”. What does a person do when terra firma isn’t very firma?
Life is often that way. We assume the day before us will be normal, just as we have planned, only to sometimes see the ground give way. Accidents and crimes appear without warning; serious diagnoses are given when we assumed all was well; family issues are unearthed when we least expected them. We may not fall into literal sinkholes, but we often fall into pits of trouble.
Danielle could only cry for help. In her situation, help was available and she was rescued. That’s true for us, too: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:7,11). That’s a wonderful promise to tattoo onto our hearts. When the unexpected happens, we can be calmed by remembering that “The Lord of hosts is with us.”
Today the ground under my feet is solid (so far). Now is a good time to hear this: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And just to finish our earlier story, our son underwent surgery but the worst that we had feared did not come to pass. He is now a husband and father of three young men, thanks to God!
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2026, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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