We all long for clarity around the decisions we must make in life, and I have been known to get downright cheeky with God when I ask for clarity about a certain situation. If He could send Moses a talking, burning bush, couldn’t He spare me at least a whisper of guidance to help me know what to do next? Never mind that I’d probably be terrified if a burning bush started talking to me anyway…
But seriously, I listened to a fascinating podcast episode today on the wonderful new show “In POD We Trust” with my sister, Sarah C. Albritton and Jessica Pidsley. These are two remarkable, intuitive women, both professional coaches, who have brought a unique format to the podcast world: each episode revolves around a single word, and they prepare only as their inner wisdom and intuition guide them.
This episode’s word was “Clarity,” and the discussion changed forever my understanding of the word and how clarity might intersect with the topics of the previous two episodes of their podcast: intuition and fear.
It may be no surprise to those of you who know me (I’m a biology major, science geek, and “what’s the bottom line?” thinker…decidedly left-brained), I want clarity to be not just a clue about what I’m supposed to do next, but a mapped-out, step-by-step strategy. And I want it to make sense!
Sarah and Jessica quickly disabused me of this unrealistic expectation and explained (tenderly but firmly) that when I get an intuitive nudge to take a step that feels uncomfortable, my quest for the “complete picture” clarity is not my inner wisdom talking, but rather my ego demanding answers and protecting me from the fear of taking that step without knowing where I might need to step after that.
I should know better.
I have often appreciated the way Holy Spirit has worked in my life (and what is intuition but another name for that “still small voice?”). It is like a spotlight shining on the step ahead of me, but beyond that step, there seems to be only darkness. My task, when that one step is illuminated, is to step out in faith and trust that as soon as I have done so, the light will stay one step ahead of me.
“It can feel meandering; it can feel treacherous, it can feel unknown,” admitted Pidsley. “It’s the greatest adventure that any of us can ever be on, listening to the voice within us and allowing our lives to be oriented around that knowing.”
Sarah agreed. “Clarity is available to all of us. It’s not just relegated to the few special people who are ‘spiritual’ and ‘holy.’ We all have it and it’s something we can all use.”
After listening to this show I felt like the father in the ninth chapter of Mark’s Gospel as he pleaded for Jesus to heal his epileptic son: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” I believe that inner knowing exists and is available to me. I just need to learn how to look past the noise and distraction of my ego and my fear to muster the courage to step out in faith and expect clarity in the rightness of that decision.
How have you tapped into your God-given inner wisdom and learned to trust it?
Listen to this podcast wherever you get your podcasts, but CLICK HERE for a link to the 34-minute Episode 3 (Clarity) on Apple Podcasts.
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Thank you for this wonderful, vunlerable post, Elizabeth. I love what you’ve said about the light… we only drive in the dark because we can see that illuminated bit of road ahead… and it’s enough for us. The greatest experiences of my life have come when I took a leap based only on intuition. That deep clarity defies reason, and is as much a question as an answer. We are all learning what we need to. 💖
Thanks for the introduction to the podcast. I’m putting on my list. Being a pragmatic type, I like to know the path. With age, I’m beginning to be more comfortable with living with the knowledge that the path will reveal itself vs. knowing with absolute clarity what the path will be. 😎
Denise, I think you’ve hit on one of the silver linings of age — it does often come with an easing of our need to be in control (though we all want to be!) and not just an acceptance, but an appreciation for the adventure of living with the questions and uncertainties. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.