1 Samuel 7: The Bible Daily

“And from that day the ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a very long time, for it was twenty years… and all the house of Israel lamented and grieved after the Lord.”

—1 Samuel 7:2 AMP

The Ark was back—the symbol of God’s presence—I sense they felt distant. Some translations say they feared God. Others say they mourned after Him. Either way, you can sense it: something was off.

Every experienced seasons where the Lord felt distant? I knew in my head He was near, but my heart felt disconnected. Every single time, it wasn’t because He moved—it was because I did. For me, that distance usually was a product of my Inconsistent time with Him—I wasn’t spending regular time in the Word. My quiet times where hit and miss for sure.

Since I started reading just one chapter a day, everything has shifted.

This simple rhythm has become the catalyst for transformation in my life. My relationship with the Lord has grown deeper. He’s become more real to me—more present. I’ve found myself experiencing joy even in affliction. I’ve seen how God is doing and allowing certain things—not to break me, but to grow me.

This journey—fostering and adopting teenagers as a single mom—has stretched me beyond what I ever imagined. I haven’t had to break up any physical fights this month, but trust me, I have a number of times. Most of those moments, I felt like I was failing miserably. There have been days I’ve sat with the question: Did I really hear God right? Was saying yes to this life too much? Was I even built for this?

No training prepares you for this. Not for secondary trauma, not for reactive attachment disorder, not for the way ADHD, birth order, and grief can all collide under one roof. They mention those things in training—but living them? That’s a different story.

Just this week, we had to walk through some hard but healing conversations around my youngest’s triggers. There was pain, but there was also breakthrough. We’re seeing real change. Not because it’s easy, but because we’re committed—to healing, to love, and to staying in the process. Even when it’s messy. Especially when it’s messy.

I feel inadequate on the regular. But strangely? I also feel strengthened. God hasn’t just given me grace—He is my grace. He’s teaching me and my kids every step of the way. Even in the chaos, I can see how it’s shaping us all—building compassion, kindness, and a deeper understanding in their hearts and in mine. It doesn’t mean life is easy. Far from it. I’m different now. Grounded. Anchored. Not because of a perfect life, but because Im spending consistent time in His presence—each day, one chapter at a time.