Are you stuck in the hallway?

We have a little rescue mutt named Cuzz. He's part schnauzer, part jack russell terrier, and part grinch who stole Christmas. He's got a heart deep down inside, but most of life seems like it annoys and frustrates him.

He's not tall enough to jump up on the bed anymore, so we've given him a step stool. He's always barking at any animals on tv, animated or real, so we've canceled all cable and gone to reading books. We live in the woods but Cuzz thinks he hears intruders at all hours of the day and night, regularly bursting out in random fits of barking.

What up, Cuzz? Our oldest son gave the most serious dog, the most un-serious name.

One thing Cuzz hates is being stuck in the hallway. If he's missed our bedtime while reclining on the couch, he will feel left out. Cuzz will gently paw at the doors in the hallway until someone lets him in. It's not a scratch-a-hole-in-the-door thing, but more of a passive pawing.

I imagine, in my mind, his internal voice sounds a bit like Eeyore as he says: "I guess I'm gonna be stuck in this hallway again. Nobody likes me enough to let me in. Why does my master forget me all the time?"

Cuzz knows, beyond one of these doors, is his master. There, he'll find rest, with the master. He's got a miserable disposition most of the time, although he does love to snuggle. His happy place is up on the bed.

But he's constantly feeling stuck in the hallway.

For years, Eli and I have known the feeling. For nearly a decade now, we've believed that our master has called us into missions. Despite the feeling, it seemed like no doors would open. We would paw at different opportunities for connection, but every way seemed shut.

I feel ya, Cuzz. It's frustrating.

It's important to note that this happened to so many people in the bible. This week, we have been studying Abraham. Did you realize that Abraham was promised a son, but had to wait 25 years for the fulfillment of that promise? He was told his descendants would inherit the land, but they had 400 years of slavery and 40 years lost in a desert to endure first.

Hallways can be long. The waiting can be excruciating.

One thing I can say for sure, as Cuzz' master, I always hear the pawing. It wakes me from the deepest of sleep. It gets my attention. I hear his Eeyore voice in my mind "please, let me in, I just want to be with you."

Do you feel stuck in a hallway? Does it seem like no doors are opening and the master has forgotten about you? I urge you to call out to God in prayer. He hears you. He's always listening. I don't know why it seems like it takes so long for Him to answer sometimes, but His ways are higher than mine and He owes me no explanation.

In Revelation 5:13, there is a beautiful picture of heaven. Angels and eternal beings are worshipping Jesus. They pour out bowls of incense, which are described as the prayers of the saints.

Your prayers to God are being stored in heaven, they are not floating away in the wind. It may seem like they are going unanswered, but they are not. They smell great to the Lord. Keep pawing at the Masters door. Keep crying out to Him in your hallway. He's using this time to prepare you for the thing He has for you.

A door will open, eventually. This won't last forever. God has used the hallway to prepare Eli and I for Guatemala. He knew we needed this extra time to be ready. He's working ALL THINGS together for our good. Yours too.

Even in the hallway.