03/08/2026
When it's Hell in the Hallway
There are seasons in life when the sky feels gray for longer than we expected.
The prayers feel unanswered.
The door we were knocking on closes.
The plan we thought would work… doesn’t.
And in those moments many of us begin to wonder:
Did I miss something?
Did I make the wrong decision?
Is God still working here?
But there is a truth I have learned both as a therapist and as a woman who has walked through her own valleys:
Gray skies are often the sign that the storm is moving out, not moving in.
When one door closes, another door truly does open.
But let’s be honest about the part people don’t talk about.
Sometimes it’s hell in the hallway.
The hallway is that uncomfortable space between what was and what will be.
It’s the waiting.
The uncertainty.
The place where faith is tested and patience is stretched.
And it’s in that hallway that our thoughts become everything.
Because while we are standing there, life is still speaking to us.
Other people’s fears, opinions, judgments, and projections will try to creep into our minds.
And if we’re not vigilant, those voices can begin to hack our lives.
They can rewrite the story God is trying to write in us.
Scripture reminds us clearly:
“Be vigilant; be sober-minded.” — 1 Peter 5:8
Guard your mind.
Guard your heart.
Guard what you allow to take root in your spirit.
As someone who studies the brain and helps people rewire their lives, I can tell you something powerful:
Your brain will believe the thoughts you repeat the most.
So if we repeat fear, we wire ourselves for fear.
If we repeat doubt, we wire ourselves for doubt.
But if we repeat truth…
We begin to live from truth.
Paul said it beautifully:
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right… think about such things.” — Philippians 4:8
This is not just spiritual wisdom.
It is neurological wisdom.
Because the mind we cultivate determines the life we experience.
And when we guard our thoughts, we become stronger not only for ourselves…
But for the people we love.
For our spouses.
For our children.
For our families.
For the people we lead at work.
For the communities we are called to serve.
When we steady our mind, we steady our lives.
And here is the promise we can hold onto when we feel stuck in that hallway:
God wastes nothing.
Not your waiting.
Not your prayers.
Not your effort.
Not your growth.
Even the quiet moments where it feels like nothing is happening…
Something sacred is happening beneath the surface.
Which is why today I want to end with this prayer.
Lord, thank You for Your Word that never fades, never fails, and never goes to waste.
In a world where so much slips through our hands, help us cling to the truth that every moment spent with You matters.
Remind us that even the smallest seed of Scripture planted in our hearts can bear eternal fruit.
Grow in us a deeper hunger for Your Truth, and let Your living Word shape us day by day.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
And if today you feel like you are standing in the hallway…
Hold steady.
Keep your thoughts guarded.
Keep your faith anchored.
Keep moving forward.
Because the door that is meant for you is already being prepared.
XOXO,
Dona Rae
LCSW | CEO | Rapid Transformational Coach | Executive Coach
P.S. Something new is opening. The Breakthrough Code™. For those who’ve worked with me before and those just stepping onto the path. If you’re ready for a real breakthrough, take a look.
https://donaraelove.com/home--dona-rutowicz-page
