On Elevators and Christmas

ByD'Ann Mateer
33 Comments

Yesterday was a normal day. Wake up. Spend some time with Jesus. Run some errands. Do a bit of online shopping. (Oops! Not on the to do list, but there you go!) Change into workout clothes intending to walk for a little while on the treadmill before sitting down to work on this post. But first, a trip downstairs to get the mail and pick up a package.

As you know, I live in a downtown high rise, so getting the mail means a quick descent to the lobby-level mail room, with a run to the desk for package retrieval. So I did what I usually do—put on my shoes, grabbed my keys, left my phone on the sofa, and caught the elevator. (Stairs are only for emergencies in our building. No access otherwise.)

I was alone in the elevator, as I often am during work hours. And the trip isn’t long. Soon, the car stuttered a bit, then kind of jerked to a stop. My heart rate picked up a notch, but the time that had passed assured me I was at the lobby. So I waited for the doors to open.

And waited.

Shoved down my anxiety and kept waiting. After all, I didn’t want to be chicken little. Surely the doors would open any minute.

I pushed the “open doors” button. And waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Never in my over 50 years on this planet have I ever been stuck in an elevator. And of course I had left my phone at home. So my only understanding of such things had to come from multiple viewings of You’ve Got Mail, but in that stuck elevator scene Tom Hanks was around to keep a cool head and figure out what to do!

I looked over the button panel, found both an Alarm button and a Help button. Which to push? Who would each connect me with? And what if the doors opened just as I signaled for help? What if I wasn’t really stuck and made a public spectacle of myself?

I sat on the floor (because that’s what they did in the movie while they waited) and stared at the panel again, breathing Help me, Lord, help me, Lord, over and over. Finally, I pushed Help. The sound of dialing, then connection, then an automated voice repeating “Elevator 3.”

Then nothing.

Had it connected? Did anyone know I was here? My heart rate ramped up again. I breathed deep, waited some more, even knocked on the door hoping someone would hear. Finally, in desperation, I hit the Help button once more. The same routine, except this time the familiar voice of one of the desk staff broke in. I told him my name and that I was stuck. He said he’d be right there. And he was. But when he spoke to me a few minutes later, it wasn’t comforting.

“Um, I’m going to have to call the elevator company. You are stuck between floors.”

I remained seated in the corner, wrapped my arms around my knees. I tried to remember Scripture I’d committed to memory. Tried to remember worship songs we sang in church. I did remember all those things, but in bits and pieces, in jumbled thoughts.

I will bless the Lord at all time, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

O taste and see that the Lord is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

The Lord redeems the soul of His servants and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

And I prayed, asking God to keep my anxiety at bay, to help me know He was near. In the midst of these things running in my head (and possibly out loud, too) I remember one very clear thought: none of my friends or family knew where I was or that I was in trouble. I didn’t have my phone, so I couldn’t even text anyone to pray. It was just me and Jesus in that elevator. I could either trust Him completely or I could fall completely apart. (Have I mentioned I tend to get claustrophobic?)

Almost 45 minutes after stuttering to a stop in the elevator, I heard, “Ma’am, it’s the fire department. We’ll have you out in a few minutes.” Soon the doors were pried open and a group of about six young men smiled up at me. I scooted to the doors and they lifted me down to the ground.

And that’s when I saw her—my friend Mattie, who lives in my building. Who had just come back into town that day. Who came downstairs for her mail at the exact right time to hear me say my name and that I was stuck. Who waited around to see what would happen. Who was determined to head back upstairs to call my husband if the fire department hadn’t arrived. Who stayed, praying for me, as they got me out. Who hugged me. Who sat with me on the couch in the lobby until I stopped shaking.

So yes, it was just me and Jesus in that elevator. And yet even though I couldn’t contact anyone to pray for me, He had. And not only someone to pray, but to be there for me when I was released. God showed me that even when I am completely alone and cut off from everyone, He sees and He provides.

Isn’t that really what Christmas is about? That we were stuck here on earth in our sin. We cried out for help, for someone to rescue. God saw. And He came. Not just to rescue (like the firemen), but to comfort and love (like my friend). The baby born in the manger grew up. And before He returned—resurrected—to heaven, He reminded us that He would never leave or forsake us. Not even when we find ourselves alone in an elevator stuck between floors without a phone.

Have you ever been stuck in an elevator? What happened? Who rescued you?

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Inspired by novelist Eugenia Price, D’Ann’s dream of writing historical fiction with an element of faith began in middle school, though her serious drive toward publication took a bit longer. D’Ann is the author of four historical novels and one novella, as well as a contemporary short stories in a compilation volume. D’Ann and her husband of 30 years can be found in Austin, TX when they aren’t touring historic sites or visiting their grown children.

33 Comments

  1. Anne, this may be my new favorite “Christmas” story! I love the lessons you drew from your experience, and I know I’ll think of your story next time I’m “stuck” somewhere! Blessings…

    1. I always love the lessons the Lord teaches me from life–especially at Christmas! I just wish I could learn from hearing the stories instead of living them. 🙂

  3. I am sorry you were stuck on the elevator, but so glad you shared your story. So many times I feel “stuck” in life. I am going to remember this.
    Blessings,
    Becky

    1. We all do, don’t we? It’s just that our stuck isn’t quite as dramatic as mine was this time. It’s a lesson I definitely needed at this season of my life.

  5. What a scary experience and a wonderful testimony! Thanks for sharing! (And don’t ever leave home without a book! ;))

    2. I know, right? I mean even if being in the elevator would have nixed my service to call or text, I could have at least read a book while I waited! 🙂

  6. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful experience. We all need the reminder that when there “appears” to be NO ONE to help us, Our Heavenly Father ALWAYS has a plan in action. Such a comfort and a promise both shared so beautifully in this Christmas story. He never fails.

    1. Yes! And the joy I felt at seeing my friend’s face and KNOWING that God put her there at that moment was indescribable. Why do we ever doubt God’s love and goodness?

  7. Anne, first off, I am horribly claustrophobic, so reading your post had my heart rate up considerably. And I laughed at the You’ve Got Mail references. But I was mostly blessed by the lessons learned. Thank you for sharing. It really touched my heart.

    1. Thanks, Robin. I’ve been working through many anxiety issues in my past, so the fact that I made it through this experience without falling completely apart was truly a testimony to God’s grace and His work in my life.

  8. What a wonderful story!
    One chilly December morning, I stepped out of my trailer to shake out a rug, and the door locked behind me. I was wearing blue jeans, a shirt, socks, but no shoes. I did not have my keys in my pocket nor a phone. I had just moved into this trailer, and the owners, who were my closest neighbors and the only people I knew, were not at home. I prayed about the circumstances, and God directed me to run up the hill to my next closest neighbor. When I did, that neighbor called a locksmith–who said she knew exactly where my trailer was. My new neighbor said, “That’s funny. When I call for pizza, I always have to give directions two or three times!” Sure enough, the locksmith had to call back for further directions. It seemed that my road–“Country Haven Lane” had two sections that were separated by property with no way to cut across it! So you had to go back to the main road, and find the road that led to the second half of “Country Haven Lane.” But the locksmith did show up, unlocked my front door–which was easier to unlock than the back door, just as my landlord drove up. I had on dirty socks from my run up the hill–and back down, but was grateful for God’s provision of friendly neighbors and a persistent locksmith!

  9. Wow- that would definitely be scary. You handled it well. I haven’t been stuck in an elevator before, but I did get stuck in my bathroom a couple of weeks ago for 3 1/2 hours when the doorknob broke! That was an experience!

    1. Oh my word! That would be scary! And for so long!!! At least I knew at some point people were aware and trying to get me out. But I think I might have freaked out in your situation! 🙂

  10. Your story really touched my heart today, Anne. I can only imagine how scary that would be, feeling alone and cut off from help. Yet you had Jesus, and he not only saw you, he sat with you and brought help and comfort. What a beautiful testimony! And I love your analogy to Christmas. Absolutely perfect!

    1. Thanks, Karen. I love when God connects His truth to our life experiences–especially during the Christmas season! I just would prefer to read about them rather than live them! 🙂

  11. Terrifying! What a beautiful testimony to God’s provision and sufficiency, though. Thanks you for sharing, Anne! Your words blessed me this morning.

  12. What a great post! And bless you for looking deeper and finding what God may have meant to communicate to you – and thereby to us.

    I used to work on the 24th floor of a 60-floor building, and the fear of stopped elevators was never too far from my mind. (Though, funny enough, it happened with much more frequency in the 4-floor building where I interned. The worst was when someone brining us ice cream got trapped.) I never got stuck, but for years and years, I’d have dreams of being trapped and elevators doing 360-degree rotations!

    1. Yes, getting stuck has been my fear since we moved here 9 months ago. But I am very glad we only live on the 10th floor, so it isn’t too long of an elevator ride to the ground–especially now that I find myself holding my breath whenever I step into an elevator!

  13. Did you have to go to the bathroom while you waited? (I’m sure I would’ve thought about the bathroom if I had been in your situation!) And, are you being more cautious about bringing your phone w/ you? This will be a family story for a few generations! Thanks for sharing!

    1. Ha! I did not, thankfully, have to go to the bathroom, or I would really have panicked! 🙂 But yes, I will be taking my phone with me no matter what from now on!

  14. Yes, God and Jesus are always as near as we want them to be! I have never been stuck, but there was an elevator in the Education Building on my university campus that always scared me. It would moan and groan and clatter from floor to floor, and usually stopped 4 inches above the floor level. I definitely was always afraid it would stop with the doors shut tight! Yes, I could have taken the stairs, but during my last semester, my very pregnant body always rejected the climb.
    May your elevator doors always open, and may you always know your Savior is with you.

    1. I know what you mean about stuttery elevators. I try to avoid those, too, but yes, very pregnant will make you do different things! Love your blessing at the end! I think I may steal it to say to people in my building! 🙂

  15. Oh man! God is good! That is one of my top ten nightmares. So glad you found comfort after that experience!

  16. That is one of my HUGE fears… to be stuck in a little, hot, smelly elevator! Because most of them are that to me! 🙁 I’d be struggling to concentrate in my prayers, too, even though I know Jesus is right there beside me. Glad you were able to be rescued before too long.

    1. Yes! And honestly, I’m grateful it was a fairly large elevator–and while it would have been nice to have company, it was also nice not to feel hot and more closed in by others in there with me! 🙂

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