The Iceberg of Integrity

"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." — 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

One person described all of us as an iceberg. Think about an iceberg floating in the ocean. The top part of the iceberg—the part you can see—is only about 15% of the whole. The other 85% is hidden below the surface of the water.

This is a lot like our lives. The 15% above the surface represents the things that others see—our outward actions, the way we present ourselves, and how we interact with the world. But the 85% below the surface is the majority of who we are. It’s our character, our thoughts, our motives, and the private decisions no one else ever sees.

Integrity is an “inside job.” It’s not just about maintaining what’s visible to others; it’s about paying attention to the hidden part of your life. The strength of your life is determined by what’s beneath the surface.

The iceberg analogy reminds us that what truly matters is often invisible to others but fully seen by God. People may only notice the 15% of our lives that’s above the surface, but God knows the full picture—the 85% beneath. Integrity starts in the heart and extends to everything we do.

Reflection Question: If God examined your life beneath the surface, what would He see? Are there areas that need to be strengthened or brought into alignment with His Word?

Heavenly Father, thank You for seeing all of me, both what others see and what’s hidden. Help me focus on my character, thoughts, and motives so I can live with integrity. Strengthen my foundation in You so my life reflects Your truth. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

From "Integrity: an Inside Job": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/cd43xf5/6-integrity-is-an-inside-job