3 Ways We Can Find Comfort in the Hallway

I don't know too many people who love to wait or who eagerly welcome difficulties in life.  And I've shared before about my dislike of hallways.  But as my faith has matured, I've also come to realize that we can have hope and encouragement even during seasons of waiting.

If you're facing difficult circumstances or are waiting for something, here are 3 ways to find comfort in the hallway.

God is glorified in the hallway

One of my favorite Scripture passages comes from John 9, where Jesus healed a blind man.  Some of Jesus' disciples asked Him, "Lord, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 

It was a common belief back then (and, sadly, is still held today in some circles) that any malady or hardship was a direct result of sin.  And while all brokenness, illness, and hardship here on Earth are consequences of sin, they are not necessarily the direct result of someone's specific sin, as Jesus Himself pointed out in the next verse.

"Neither has sinned," Jesus responded.  "Rather, this has happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him" (my paraphrase, emphasis added).

It should be a huge source of comfort to us that God can glorify Himself through our hallways.  In fact, in my own life, I think more often than not that God is glorified most when I'm going through rough stuff.  I have a feeling this is because I tend to keep my focus on the Lord much more when I'm struggling than when everything is going well.  It's amazing how quickly pride creeps in when I feel like I need God's help less!

Our hallways may not always result in a dramatic conclusion the way the blind man's did when Jesus healed his eyes, but we can rest assured that God is working for our good and His glory through every trying situation.

God disciplines those He loves

Discipline is never, ever fun.  Whether you're a child being disciplined by a parent, a parent having to discipline a child, or a child of God being chastised by the Heavenly Father, no one loves being punished or corrected!

At the same time, however, God's correction can itself be a source of comfort, because God's Word tells us in both Proverbs 3:12 and Hebrews 12:6 that He disciplines the ones He loves.  Think about this with me for a minute:  if God isn't punishing you, at least from time to time, what is that indicating?

So, while correction and training aren't often enjoyable, they can serve as a reminder that we are beloved children of the Lord.

God refines and purifies us through the hallway

Although I don't know who originally said it (if you know, please share in the comments!), one of my favorite quotes is along these lines: 

I never really grew spiritually except during times of great struggle. 

There's something about hardship and waiting that challenges us to grow up, to keep our eyes on Christ, and to develop greater spiritual maturity.  I've not experienced anything else in life that even comes close to refining and purifying me than going through a hallway! 

Seasons of struggle seem to be one of the most common ways God uses to get a hold of our hearts, to draw us closer to Himself, and to remove the dross from our lives.  It's not a fun process, but it is necessary.  Knowing that He's allowing it so that we come forth refined and purified can bring a lot of comfort in an otherwise uncomfortable situation in life!

Hallways aren't fun or enjoyable, but they can bring along with them several sources of comfort.  They bring God glory; they remind us that we are God's children; and they refine and purify us unlike anything else in life.  If we're diligent to keep these things in mind, we can find Biblical comfort and true, Godly joy even in the midst of difficulty!

Share with me:  how do you find comfort in the hallway?