Lifted From the Fall

A powerful story reported by the BBC tells of a woman named Leah Matthews, a 32-year-old from Wales, who experienced a life-altering fall. While out walking with her friend and their dogs at Henrhyd Falls—a place they had visited before—everything seemed normal. The conditions were good, and she was properly equipped with sturdy walking boots. But in a moment that no one could have predicted, she slipped while trying to help one of the dogs and fell 130 feet.

The fall left her with devastating injuries—broken ribs, a fractured pelvis, damage to her hip, and a broken foot. It was the kind of accident that could have easily ended her life. But rescue teams from the fire service, mountain rescue, and ambulance service responded with urgency and courage. They reached her, stabilized her, and carried her out. Months later, after a long and painful recovery that required her to learn to walk again, Leah was able to meet the very people who saved her life. Standing before them, she said with deep gratitude, “If it wasn’t for you lot, I wouldn’t be here today.”

That story is more than just a physical rescue—it is a picture of what God does for us spiritually. Every one of us has experienced a fall far greater than 130 feet—the fall of sin. And just like Leah, we often don’t realize how quickly things can change. One moment everything seems fine, and the next we are in a place we cannot escape on our own. But God did not leave us there.

Just as those rescuers came down into the danger to reach her, Jesus Christ came into this world to rescue us. He didn’t stand at a distance—He stepped into our brokenness, lifted us up, and made a way for us to walk again. And like Leah, our response should be gratitude. We were not just injured—we were lost. And if it were not for Him, we would not be here spiritually today.