How to Adopt Maybe He Will Kind of Faith

When we’re walled on every side by insurmountable, when the odds aren’t in our favor, when there’s no action or inaction that’s risk-free, what do we do? Because sometimes it appears there isn’t a way out.

Maybe you’ve been there, or that’s where you are today: pinched between bad and also bad. You need an immediate and miraculous rescue.

Let’s turn for a moment, from the story you’re living to one described in the book of 1 Samuel. Here we find faith that takes a little different angle than Even If Faith (even if You don’t answer the way I hope, I still trust You, God) or Nevertheless Faith (in the middle of the very worst, nevertheless I choose to believe that You’re good). This is a story of Maybe He Will Faith.

Meet an under-armed, outnumbered. rapidly dwindling army. They can’t give in or win. They’re already defeated in their hearts and minds. But Jonathan, King Saul’s son, can’t stay put. He and his armor bearer creep from the ranks towards the challenge.

Let’s pause here. TWO men. Two men advance with fearless faith. The terrain is nearly impassable as their opponents are strategically positioned, yet they press on.

Jonathan proposes a plan as wild as their climb toward the enemy line. Let’s show ourselves and if they call us towards them, we’ll know God will empower us to fight. If they instead say they’re coming to us, we brace here.

His reasoning catches me off guard:

Maybe the Eternal One will fight for us. If He wants to save us, then no force is too big or too small.

– 1 Sam. 14:6, The Voice

He’s banking an awful lot on a maybe. Maybe God will miraculously protect them. Maybe an invisible shield will ward off the sure attack. Maybe an army of able-bodied men will be defenseless again this reckless, fearless duo.

What in the world would posses them to dangle their very lives on a maybe?!

The Composition of the Question

Whether a maybe pushes us towards or away from God—whether it builds or dismantles our faith—hinges on the question.

Is God is good? Is He strong enough? Does He see me and care about me? call into question God’s capability and nature. It’s as if we’ve put God on trail and asked Him to prove Himself.

Thing is, He already has.

He’s already purchased our freedom and paved a wide open path to Him.

He already called us, chosen us, commissioned us.

He’s already held us tenderly and tight to His chest, as He still is now.

You and I find ourselves in the tension of now and not-yet, secure in what God’s already done so we can trust what He’s doing in all that’s still unfolding.

And in this tension, we will have questions. That’s a good thing. Questions invite us into curiosity—and curiosity builds intimacy.

Let’s choose questions that pull us closer, rather than push God away. Questions rooted in “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) help us press into the layers of God’s nature we don’t understand yet.

God, where are You? Help me see!

You know more than I do. What should I do next?

Will You help me trust You, no matter the cost?

Would You help me to understand, and to be obedient even before I do?

Rather than question if God’s with us and for us, we assume He is, and press into Him as we bring our tender queries. Brutal honesty helps us become fearlessly faithful because we dare to say “Maybe God will.”

Maybe He’ll make another way.

Maybe He’ll answer swiftly.

Maybe it’s time for a miracle.

Maybe He Will Faith

Maybe He Will Faith hinges on trust and action. We’re recklessly obedience because our God is greater than anything that stands against us.

We can ground ourselves in the truth that God wants to rescue us, but He sees the whole, eternal picture, and He’s with us even when the rescue plan stretches to the other side of heaven. We know the unequaled way He loves us even when He doesn’t right every wrong in the timing we’d choose.

You may not be facing an army ready to attach, as our key players were, but we do have an enemy that would have us mistrust God’s good heart. He wages war against us, both subtly and overly, planting doubt and turning our attention away from God.

But we’re not defenseless. We’ve got an entire set of armor at our disposal.

Ephesians 6:10-18 may be a familiar passage, but I invite you to read it with me in a less-known version:

Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might from God. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God to protect yourselves from the devil and his evil schemes. ¹²We’re not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities, against supernaturalpowers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places.

¹³And this is why you need to be head-to-toe in the full armor of God: so you can resist during these evil days and be fully prepared to hold your ground. ¹⁴Yes, stand—truth banded around your waist, righteousness as your chest plate, ¹⁵and feet protected in preparation to proclaim the good news of peace. ¹⁶Don’t forget to raise the shield of faith above all else, so you will be able to extinguish flaming spears hurled at you from the wicked one. ¹⁷Take also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸Pray always. Pray in the Spirit. Pray about everything in every way you know how! And keeping all this in mind, pray on behalf of God’s people. Keep on praying feverishly, and be on the lookout until evil has been stayed.

– The Voice

So let’s suit up, bring God our brave questions, and dare to declare, “Maybe God will.”

Let’s pray.

God, You’re with us and for us, even when we can’t see it. Thank you for sticking so close to us, for equipping us to stand on truth and trust You, no matter what. Grow in us the faith to say, “Maybe You will” and follow where You lead.

Just a friend over here in your corner,