SOMETIMES "MAYBE" IS ENOUGH

1 Samuel 14:6 “Jonathan said, perhaps the Lord will help us…”

In looking at the story in 1 Samuel, Jonathan seemed to be in a situation of uncertainty. The future, the absolute direction he needed for the present time just was not clear. All he could say in v.6 was "It may be..." He couldn’t be sure one way or the other. He seemed to, and probably did, feel that it was the right thing to do, but there is uncertainty revealed in his words. There seemed to be some doubt.

Doubt is the opposite of faith. In Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul talks about the "armor of God." In that discussion, he speaks of "taking the shield of faith, with which we can quench the fiery darts of the enemy." If doubt is the opposite of faith, then it is faith that is needed to dispel the darts of doubt that the enemy tries to hit us with. There are times when we are just "hit" with doubt, and we need a shield of faith to quench Satan’s attempts to unravel our faith.

But I also believe that there are times when we have uncertainties and doubts in which the enemy is not majorly involved. There are times when we are just unsure and unclear on the right step to take, and the right move to make. Sometimes, all we have is a sense, a feeling, and something abstract. We have nothing concrete and sure. Most of the time, in every area of life, we like guarantees. We like the sure thing.

But the "sure thing" doesn’t require any faith. In Hebrews 11:6, faith is identified as a prerequisite for pleasing God. The truth is, most of us will face more "maybe’s" than we will certainties in our walk with God. There will be times when we have a sense of what’s right, what God’s will is, but we will still have doubts and uncertainties.

Ecclesiastes 11 talks about "not watching the wind and clouds." What does that mean? I believe it means: Don’t get caught up watching the natural circumstances. Don’t get distracted by waiting for natural things to align themselves. Listen: If all we do is wait on the right time, on the right conditions, on the right people, or the right atmosphere, then all we will ever do is sit around talking about "how bad we need things to line up" so we can get things done.

The metaphor used in Ecclesiastes 11, relates this truth to sowing and reaping. "He who regards the wind will never sow, and he that observes the clouds will never reap." Whether sowing or reaping, you can’t sit around waiting on "perfect" conditions before you take action. Don’t wait on the wind, and don’t focus on the clouds. And if we wait to do anything for God, until we are absolutely sure that it’s the right thing, then we will only sit around and miss miracles.

Sometimes you have to move out on a "maybe." It’s not about senseless actions, and trusting God to empower our every whim. But there are times when you have to step out by faith, and that means that you will not be sure. To wait until you’re sure is not moving by faith. All you may have is a "maybe". But the Lord calls out to us today, "If you will begin to move out on a maybe, I will transform your maybe into a miracle."