My friend, if you are reading this today and have never experienced the agony of being Stuck In-Between or in a Hellish Hallway, as Jentezen Franklin refers to it in Acres of Diamonds, then I beg you to share with the rest of this world your amazing secret. Better yet–write a book, generate significant income, and use the wealth to impart this wisdom to me and everyone else I know! Personally, I would prefer to discover that there exists Three Easy Steps to a Flourishing Life, and it only costs $39.95; yet my life experience confirms that I’m more frequently finding myself in the Messy Middle or a Hellish Hallway searching diligently for the next open door, rather than traversing smoothly from one day to the next.

It seems as if I’m becoming more familiar with the Hellish Hallway that Franklin describes, “I’ve heard it said that when God shuts one door, He will open another. That is true, but sometimes it’s hell out there in the hallway. Sometimes when a door shuts, another door does not open instantly. You’re standing in the hallway. You feel stuck in that place without instruction or direction. The problem with most of us is that we’re too impatient when we are waiting in the in-between place.”

What Franklin encourages us to do goes completely against my natural instincts. As a person of action, I prefer not to stand around in any hallway, especially a Hellish one, but instead he asks us to trust our doorkeeper. “The Lord is your doorkeeper. Never forget this. Open doors give you access to something. Closed doors deny you access. If you trust God as your doorkeeper, He is going to allow or deny you access to His plan and His purpose for your life.” Perhaps you are a little better at this whole Trust and Obey concept, however, I may trust Him as my doorkeeper, but sometimes I fail to remember that He operates on Kairos time and not Chronos time. Standing here tapping my foot, I’m impatiently awaiting an open door, and if He doesn’t hurry up, I may go find a window to climb through because I’m ready to exit the Hellish Hallway!

“Seasons will come in life when you have zero evidence to believe God is working, but when you look back on that time, you will discover He was there all along. Active behind the scenes. From the shadows. Undercover. God is always at work in your life,” shares Franklin. And I know beyond a shadow of doubt that this is true, that it’s during moments like Franklin describes when we are asked to walk in faith; yet as difficult as I find this journey, knowing that my anchor will hold even during Raging Seas, how in the world do people manage finding their way out of the Hellish Hallway without the Lord to guide them?

Clinging to Scripture and Franklin’s words of hope, I will adjust my posture and lean into depending on Him while in the Hallway, “I know it’s hard to see God bless others while you are forced to wait. You are being tested by the very promises He gave you. When you are in the in-between place, the hallway between a closed door and the next open door, the enemy will whisper, ‘What are you doing here? Why has God forsaken you?’” Refusing to allow these fiery arrows to pierce my heart, I’ll choose instead to walk the walk. “You’ve got to live the life. The walk down the hell in every hallway is a part of our gift. God is looking for faithfulness in the long walk, fruit that we are being continually changed, transformed, purified and made in His image. This is what makes a gift worth it. You do not have to do anything to impress God other than to be faithful. As you ask God to open your eyes to the hidden potential of your life, walk with Him. Obey Him. Be faithful in the small things.”

I would prefer to avoid a Hellish Hallway, yet I know He is growing me during these moments that I learn to trust in Him. Would you be willing to share a time that God made you wait, but you knew it was the right thing to do? Please share in the comments below.

References:

Franklin, J. (2020). Acres of diamonds: Discovering God’s best right where you are. Chosen Books.