Finding Peace While Waiting in What Feels Like the Hallway of Hell

How do you hold onto peace while waiting? Have you ever felt steady, at ease, finally catching your breath, only for life to hurl an unexpected brick through your window, shattering that fragile stillness? One door is closing behind you, and though you’re waiting for the next to open, you’re stuck in a hallway that feels like hell. It’s dark. It’s cold. And you’re left standing there alone, with no sign of what’s ahead.

So what do you do?

You wait.

In November of 2024, I received unexpected news that has the potential to flip my entire world upside down. My livelihood is at risk, my stability uncertain, and I have no control over the outcome. I wasn’t given a timeline. I have no idea when a decision will be made, and that uncertainty pressed against my chest started to feel like a weight I couldn’t lift.

My first response? Fear. My mind spiraled into worst-case scenarios. The unknown swallowed me whole. Anxiety became my shadow. I allowed myself two days to feel every bit of it. To cry, to grieve, to break. But then, I whispered a simple prayer: God, give me peace.

And that’s when the real battle began, not against the situation itself, but against the temptation to let fear consume me.

It has been three and a half months, and I still have no answer. But instead of letting this waiting period destroy me, I’ve learned to protect my peace. And so, instead of giving you the details of my situation, I want to share what has helped me navigate it. Because I know someone reading this is standing in their own hallway of hell, wondering how to make it through without losing themselves.

1. My Faith: Trusting What I Cannot See

I can’t talk about peace without talking about faith. If not for my belief that God is in control, I wouldn’t have been able to keep my head above water. My faith doesn’t erase the fear, but it does anchor me when the waves rise.

I remember, years ago, a friend asked me how I could believe in God after all I’d been through. “I’m angry at Him for you,” she admitted. But my response was immediate: “Had there not been a God, I wouldn’t have survived what I went through.”

Faith teaches us to trust the process, even when we don’t understand it. It reminds us that just because we can’t see movement doesn’t mean nothing is happening. The waiting isn’t wasted… it’s working.

And yet, I’d be lying if I said I don’t still struggle. Some mornings, I wake up with a pit in my stomach, my mind racing with What ifs? But then I remember:

• “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
• “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)
• “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Fear wants to convince us that if we don’t act now, we’ll lose. But faith says: Wait. Trust. God is working behind the scenes.

2. Turning My Focus on Me: Reclaiming My Energy

When the weight of waiting feels unbearable, turn inward. I had to ask myself: What do I need right now? Not what the situation needs. Not what others expect of me. What do I need to stay grounded?

For me, that meant taking inventory of my life, what was draining me, what was feeding me, what needed to be released. When life feels out of control, reclaiming your energy is an act of self-preservation.

3. Decluttering: Making Space for Peace

I started “cleaning house” in every sense of the word, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Chaos breeds anxiety, and I couldn’t afford to carry any unnecessary weight while waiting for an answer that could change my life.

• I cleared out my living space because cluttered surroundings lead to cluttered thoughts.
• I unfollowed negativity on social media because I refuse to consume what disrupts my peace.
• I released relationships that drained me because I need people who pour into me, not pull from me.

Waiting is exhausting enough. Don’t let extra burdens add to the weight.

“Sometimes, peace is as simple as making room for it.”

4. Boundaries: Protecting My Peace

Waiting is emotionally taxing, and I had to be mindful of what I let in. That meant:

• Saying no to conversations that fueled fear instead of faith.
• Limiting access to people who made my anxiety worse.
• Avoiding triggers whether it was news, certain TV shows, or social media spirals.

“Yesterday’s access is not today’s access. Protecting your peace isn’t selfish, it’s survival.” 

When you’re in a vulnerable place, you can’t let just anyone have access to you.

5. Mindfulness: Escaping the Trap of Overthinking

Overthinking is a thief. It takes today’s peace and trades it for tomorrow’s fear. If I let my thoughts run wild, they create entire stories that may never even happen.

So I trained my mind to focus on the now.

• When my heart started racing, I closed my eyes, took deep breaths, and reminded myself: I am safe in this moment.
• When negative thoughts crept in, I replaced them with truths: I have survived every hard thing before this. I will survive this too.
• When fear of the unknown threatened to consume me, I walked. I moved. Because fear paralyzes, but movement reminds me that I am not stuck.

“Fear isn’t about what’s happening; it’s about what could happen. Don’t let a future that hasn’t arrived steal today’s peace.” 

For a deeper understanding of how to quiet the mind and break free from the grip of overthinking, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle offers profound insights on living fully in the present moment.

6. Acceptance: Embracing the Outcome—Whatever It May Be

This is the hardest part.

What if the answer I get is not the one I want?

I wrestled with this question for weeks, until I finally landed on a truth I could hold onto: Even if things don’t go the way I hope, I will be okay.

That doesn’t mean I won’t grieve. That doesn’t mean I won’t be disappointed. But it does mean that I trust God to take care of me, no matter what.

Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” I don’t have to understand why. I just have to trust that even the things I don’t want are leading me toward something better.

7. Silence: Finding the Answers Within

The world tells us to talk it out. Call a friend. Vent. Post about it.

But silence is where clarity is born.

Instead of seeking validation from others, I chose to sit with myself. I chose to listen. I chose to let God speak before anyone else could.

And in that silence, I realized:

• Not everything needs to be shared before it’s resolved.
• Some battles are meant to be fought in private.
• The quiet holds answers we miss when we’re too busy filling the space with noise.

If you’re struggling with anxiety in waiting, you may also find comfort in reading “Healing: Seeing Life Through a New Lens.”

Final Thoughts: The Peace You’re Looking for Is Already Within You

Disruptions are an inevitable part of life. We can’t avoid them, but we can control how we respond. Waiting, especially in uncertainty, can feel like a test you never signed up for. But peace isn’t about knowing the outcome, it’s about trusting yourself through the process.

Fear will try to convince you that if you don’t have control, you don’t have security. But real security isn’t found in control, it’s found in faith, preparation, and the ability to stay anchored when life shakes you.

Some days will be harder than others. Some moments will push you to your limits. But through it all, you get to decide how you show up in the waiting. You can let anxiety run the show, or you can stand firm in the belief that no matter the outcome, you will be okay.

This season won’t last forever. And when you finally step through the next door, you’ll realize something: the version of you that endured this waiting period is stronger, wiser, and more prepared than you ever thought possible.

For now, take a deep breath. One moment at a time. One decision at a time. One step at a time.

You’ve got this. And when the time comes, you’ll walk through that door ready.

I’ve been journaling my journey since day one. And once I get my answer, whatever it is, I’ll circle back and tell you what waiting taught me. (Don’t forget to subscribe to be the first to know).

In the meantime, I would love to hear your thoughts on what you learned in your season of waiting. Let’s discuss in the comments…