The Clarity of Obscurity

"David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
1 Samuel 17:45-47 NIV

Notice the language used in the scene where David takes on the giant, it reveals a great level of clarity that David had developed about God and himself. Obscurity creates the space for clarity, and clarity, in turn, creates confidence. That’s why David responded with confidence when he faced the giant. When everyone ran from Goliath, David ran toward him.

“Obscurity creates the space for clarity, and clarity creates confidence.”

Clarity increases confidence and effectiveness in every area. Increasing our level of clarity will enhance everything we do. Getting greater clarity on the nature of God and His track record will increase your confidence. The size of our giants are always based on the perceived size of our God. Regardless of how we see him, it doesn’t change his actual greatness, but our perception of God’s strength will determine our level of fear and confidence in fighting our giants. My prayer is that greater clarity and revelation come our way as we attempt to grasp, at some level, the magnitude of who God is and what he’s capable of doing in and through our lives.

“17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Ephesians 1:17-19

We can also arrogantly assume that a dream is too big for us to take on because we assume that its fulfillment is based on our strength and ability rather than God’s. While David was confident in his ability to take on the giant, it was because he knew that God would ultimately deliver Goliath into his hand. The only way to get greater levels of clarity on God’s nature and character is to spend time with Him. This is the foundation of gaining clarity on who you are. We are our Father’s children. Knowing your heavenly father is critical.

The primary ways that we can engage the heart and character of God is through spending time in His presence through worship and the Word of God. My goal is to consume as much of the Word of God as I possibly can. I want to live in the Word until it lives fully in me! I use a one-year Bible reading plan that’s on YouVersion Bible App called, Following Jesus One Year Bible Reading Plan. I’ve been doing that for over ten years. So much of God clarifying and speaking to us comes as we allow the Word of God to live in us. The other one I mentioned was worship. Being in the presence of God and singing and worshipping Jesus is a powerful way to enlarge your understanding of the bigness of the God we serve. When is the last time you just spent uninterrupted time in the presence of God in Worship?

“If you don’t know whose you are, it’s impossible to fully know who you are.”