Revelation 3:8 “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close.”
Let’s say we compartmentalized your life into different rooms. What type of rooms would you have – work room, family room, friend room, church room? If you are like me, you love your different rooms. They are full of friends, people, and groups with commonalities that are important to you. The people and the rooms may provide a sense of community, security, or even refuge. You may have lived a long time in some of these rooms—perhaps years, even decades—not because it was the best room, but because it was familiar, and you weren’t sure how to exit the room. In each case, the rooms, the people, and the content were recognizable. It gave a sense of belonging, community, and togetherness.
So what happens when you find yourself placed outside of a room, into the hallway so to speak, on the other side of a closed door? The doors to the rooms we could once so easily walk through are now closed. What was comfortable and recognizable is no longer accessible. We knew how to navigate our rooms, who to talk to, and where to find the best seat. Now you find yourself in a hallway. The hallway is different. It’s narrow, has few chairs, and has few people (maybe even no people). The hallway feels like a hallway…empty and isolated.
What happens when you first find yourself in the hallway?
For some, you may start banging on every door out of fear or desperation. For others, you may find a corner in the hallway to cry as you grieve the loss of the room. Or maybe you aimlessly wander the hallways wondering what happened – repeating conversations over and over in your head. If you are concerned that you have done any of this, please know these are normal human responses – no shaming allowed.
The worst feeling is being tired and alone in the hallway. We wonder, “Am I the only one here? Can anyone see me in the hallway, or can anyone hear me when I speak? Yes, the hallway experience can be daunting, BUT let this be an encouragement to you: you will never be alone in the hallway. The people you need the most, and God’s faithfulness presence, will be with you.
What is true in the hallway?
Scripture offers some great perspective.
Psalms 68:6: God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
God knows our desire to be in a room, to be connected to community. He will send people to be with you in the hallway. At the right time, he will open the right door, and place us in the right rooms.
Lamentations 3:22: “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.”
God’s character is good. He is faithful to his children. He loves you. Let that sink deep into your heart. He loves you, and he will be faithful to you during the hallway season.
Exodus 14:14: “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Many times the experience of the hallway can cause fatigue and/or feelings of little strength to keep knocking. Being still and silent is okay. Find rest in this season. God goes before you and the doors open at His command. Only God has the control to open and close doors in our lives.
Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
In the hallway, as you prepare to enter a new room, God is with you. He will give you the courage you need to endure the hallway and to enter a new room at the right moment in your life.
The friend
As you read this, you may not be enduring a hallway experience, but you most likely know someone who is in this very situation.
I love this quote by Nicolas Wolterstorff, and it offers some great wisdom if you know somebody in the hallway:
“What I need to hear from you is that you recognize how painful it is. I need to hear from you that you are with me in my desperation. To comfort me, you have to come close. Come sit beside me on my mourning bench.”
Can you be the friend who sits in the hallway? Can you be the person who extends a hand to lift up someone else from their mourning bench? Can you be the friend with a hand on the back pushing them forward when they are weak? What a beautiful model of being a compassionate Jesus on earth.
My experience
I recently found myself in the hallway. A room I was very comfortable in is now closed off to me. During this time, I have been reminded that Jesus enters into our pain with us. He rolls up his sleeves and sits on my bench with me in the hallway. When the time is right, he will lift me up, direct me to the right door to the best room for me. And He will help me knock! Because He is good!
