Why God Reveals ‘Just Enough’ but ‘Not Too Much’
Background reading: Daniel 7 & 8
Scripture: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known," 1 Corinthians 13:12.
‘Just Enough’ but ‘Not Too Much’
If you’ve ever needed a reminder that God reveals just enough to us without overwhelming us, Daniel’s story shows how He balances revelation and restraint.
Remember when King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream no one could interpret in Daniel 2:17-23? Facing execution, Daniel grounded in faith prayed for divine insight. That night, God revealed both the dream and its meaning to Daniel. In Daniel 4:1-27, Daniel interpreted another troubling dream for Nebuchadnezzar, predicting his madness until he acknowledged God’s sovereignty—a prophecy that came true. And during Belshazzar’s Feast in Daniel 5:1-31, Daniel deciphered the mysterious handwriting on the wall, foretelling the end of Belshazzar’s reign. That very night, the prophecy was fulfilled, and Belshazzar was overthrown and killed.
Daniel’s Fourth Dream
After showing His control through three intense dreams and trusting Daniel with these heavy revelations, God revealed a fourth dream—the heaviest of them all.
In Daniel 7-8, the prophet grappled with a vision filled with striking imagery—a ram, a goat, and a little horn—each symbolizing powerful empires and events, leading to the cleansing of the sanctuary.
Daniel’s Response
Interestingly, for the first time, Daniel's response to the fourth vision captured my attention.
The Bible says that Daniel was worn out as described in Daniel 8:27:
"Then I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for several days. Afterward I got up and performed my duties for the king, but I was greatly troubled by the vision and could not understand it.”
Even with divine insight, the sheer weight of the revelation left Daniel physically and emotionally drained.
Even today, divine revelations can sometimes feel heavy and overwhelming.
Divine Exposure Therapy
This makes me wonder: could God sometimes withhold specific insights or next steps from us out of love to prevent us from being overwhelmed?
Could He understand our limits and, out of love, manage the flow of revelation to align with our mental and spiritual capacity to process it?
Could it be that, just as God gradually strengthened Daniel’s ability to handle each intense dream, He similarly increases our capacity to understand and process revelations, one revelation at a time?
I believe so.
It’s almost like divine exposure therapy, where each revelation builds on the last, preparing us for deeper insights.
Trusting God’s Process
Here’s the thing - God knows the end from the beginning and orchestrates all to come. Sometimes, He keeps certain truths hidden, not out of secrecy but to spare us from being overwhelmed by the total weight of the full revelation.
In Deuteronomy 29:29, we read, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”
This is the God we love—one who understands our limits, even when we don’t.
He knows that while much can be revealed, there are mysteries we may never fully grasp in this lifetime.
He knows what we can handle and what we can’t handle.
This God desires our obedience more than our curiosity to understand His every move.
This week, I’m praying for the grace to accept what God chooses to reveal and the strength to trust in what He decides not to share.
Like Daniel, we may long for detailed timelines and specific answers to our questions. Yet, the essence of these revelations is not to know the exact “when” but to trust the “who” who holds it all together.
-Dentrecia B.
Your Reflection
How do you handle revelations from God that feel overwhelming? What helps you find peace in those moments?
Where is God asking you to trust Him with incomplete answers or unclear directions? How can you build patience while waiting for clarity?
Have you experienced God revealing insights gradually in your life? How has this gradual understanding impacted how you view Him and yourself?