The Glory of the Lord Has Returned

By Michael Mitchell

Returning to the Land of My Fathers

For a year, I had been in Mississippi—a land of my ancestors. It was quiet, almost to the point of boredom, but it brought a peace that Washington never could. This place carried the weight of my family's history, a history that seemed to ground me in ways I hadn’t expected. But soon, a pressing matter arose: a $20,000 ticket in Washington State. I had to return because they no longer accepted my out-of-state payment. "I have a good job," I pleaded, "I’m taking care of my daughter." I wanted to say, "I’m not depressed anymore," but I held back. Fast forward to COVID-19, I submitted a dispute to Olympia and reached a settlement. I regained my license and the ability to drive legally again.

I was planning to return to Mississippi, but life threw another curve—a brief fling that had turned abusive resurfaced with news of a pregnancy after we had been apart for three months. Fast forward three years, and I finally felt the glory of the Lord had returned.

The Darkness Before the Dawn

Before this, I was engulfed in darkness. I had lain in the middle of a snowy street, hoping a car would lose control and end it all. But for 45 minutes, not a single car passed. As soon as I stood up, traffic resumed as if on cue. I was accused of infidelity, left alone too often, lied to repeatedly, hurt far too much. Relationships were broken; promises were made and never kept. I was called negative for daring to address the dishonesty and pain.

For years, I had no peace, no respect, and no real love—just a hollow semblance of it. I gave everything from my heart, but what I received was a facade. In my pain, I turned to promiscuity, seeking human connection and a false sense of worth. I hated myself. I felt that God was dead, His presence absent in my life in Washington.

Seeking the Ark of the Covenant

In the Scriptures, we read of Israel losing the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines. The Ark, which represented the presence and glory of God, was taken away, and the nation experienced turmoil and defeat (1 Samuel 4:10-11). Like Israel, I had lost the Ark—the presence of God in my heart. I had rushed into battles, hoping for favor that wasn’t there. I was drained from trying, and every effort seemed to end in disappointment.

But I began to pray again. Slowly, things began to change. My back injury, verified by a nurse, led to my release from work, absences piling up. Then there was the near-collision with an 18-wheeler—a narrow escape witnessed by a client’s wife. I was weary, emotionally drained from people who seemed to understand my pain but quickly withdrew when my darkness overwhelmed them.

The Glory Returns: Signs of God's Presence

When the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Israel, everything changed. The presence of God brought peace, victory, and a renewed sense of identity and purpose (1 Samuel 7:1-14). When the Lord’s glory returns to our lives, the same transformations begin to take place.

1. Peace: The first sign of God’s presence returning is peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). After years of turmoil, I finally felt peace settle in my spirit. The storms within me were calmed, just as Jesus calmed the stormy seas (Mark 4:39).

2. Vision and Self-Worth: Next came vision and a sense of self-worth. The Psalmist declares, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14). I began to see myself as God sees me—valuable, loved, and with a purpose. No longer defined by past mistakes or other people's opinions, I embraced who I was in Christ.

3. Direction: God's presence brought direction. “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). I had been lost in Washington, struggling to find a meaningful career despite my efforts. But with God’s guidance, I began to see a clear path forward.

4. Conviction and Accountability: I had always felt accountable, but now my accountability was grounded in a sense of value and purpose. The Spirit began to convict me of areas where I needed to change, not out of guilt but out of a desire to honor God and myself. “The Holy Spirit will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

5. Influence and Impact: When the Ark of God was placed in the temple of Dagon, the idol fell face down before it (1 Samuel 5:1-4). Likewise, when the glory of God returns to us, those around us must "bow" to the presence of the Lord within us. God places us in situations to influence and transform them. Our pain becomes a platform for His power to work through us.

A Journey of Restoration

The Spirit of the Lord had left me for a time, but His departure was not without purpose. God allowed me to walk through dark valleys so that I could learn to rely on Him again. Just as the Ark’s absence was a time of reflection and repentance for Israel, so my season without God’s manifest presence became a time for me to turn back and seek Him earnestly.

As I surrendered my struggles, He began to restore what was lost. Beginning with my disappointment in my father and Time for deliverance for how I was taught the word, life, being removed from football and public school, and the list goes on.

Now In Washington state, Realizing that I couldn’t progress in a place that saw the trauma and hurt received as negativity and being asked to carry more burdens alone. I returned home, terrified because I hoped the relationship I held would work and our connection would remain strong. That we’d have true honesty with each other.

While that part of the story is still being accurately written, I was offered a job in a week and a half of returning, received calls from film commission and economic development, as well as hug my mother and direct my attention and time to seeing her place be what it should be.

“Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty (Malachi 3:7). The glory of the Lord has returned, and with it, His promises of peace, purpose, and restoration.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for restoring Your presence in my life. Thank You for peace that surpasses understanding, for vision and purpose, and for guiding me through the darkest valleys. Help me to walk in the light of Your presence daily, to trust in Your timing, and to be a vessel of Your glory. May Your Spirit always reside in my heart, as the Ark of the Covenant resides in Ethiopia. In Jesus' name, Amen.