Stepping Out in Faith Amid Uncertainty

Today’s reflection centers on the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer from 1 Samuel 14, a passage that challenges us to consider what it means to step out in faith when the path ahead is unclear. Jonathan, unlike his father Saul and the priest Ahitub—both of whom were anointed and equipped for leadership—refused to remain passive while the enemy camped at Israel’s doorstep. Instead, he acted on a stirring in his heart, even though he had no clear instructions or guarantees of success. This narrative reminds us that God often places a “tug” in our spirits, a sense of calling or direction that may not come with all the details spelled out.

It’s easy to feel lost or uncertain, especially when facing challenges that seem insurmountable or when God’s instructions seem vague. Yet, the lesson here is not to wait for perfect clarity or for every obstacle to be removed. Instead, faith is often about moving forward with a “perhaps”—trusting that God is able to save, whether by many or by few, and that He is more interested in our dependence on Him than in our ability to devise flawless plans.

Jonathan’s story also highlights the importance of sharing our God-given dreams with the right people. Sometimes, the most anointed or experienced individuals are not the ones who will encourage us to step out; instead, it may be the unnamed, humble companions—like the armor bearer—who say, “I am with you heart and soul.” We are cautioned to guard the treasures God places in our hearts, sharing them prayerfully and wisely.

The journey of faith is rarely easy. The path Jonathan took was flanked by cliffs named “slippery” and “thorny,” a vivid picture of the difficulties that often accompany obedience. Yet, God’s faithfulness is not measured by the ease of the journey but by His presence with us in the struggle. The “perhaps” of faith is not a lack of conviction but a courageous trust in God’s character, even when the outcome is uncertain.

Ultimately, victory is not found in our cleverness or strength, but in the God who is with us and within us. As we remember Christ’s sacrifice through communion, we are reminded that the greatest victory came through what seemed like the most foolish plan—the cross. Our confidence is not in the “what” but in the “who.” In every season of uncertainty, we are called to step forward, even if we must crawl, trusting that God is able and that His blood secures our victory.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Call Often Lacks Details, But Demands Faithful Action God frequently places a sense of calling or direction in our hearts without providing all the specifics. This lack of detail is not a sign of God’s absence but an invitation to trust Him more deeply. Faith is not about having all the answers, but about moving forward with what God has placed in your spirit, even if it’s just a “perhaps.” [40:03]
• 2. Guard the Dreams God Gives You—Share Them Wisely Not everyone is meant to hear or affirm the dreams God has placed in your heart. Sometimes, sharing prematurely or with the wrong people can lead to discouragement or confusion. Seek out those who will stand with you in faith, and be prayerful about whom you trust with the treasures God has given you. [43:21]
• 3. Obedience Does Not Guarantee an Easy Path The presence of difficulty or opposition is not evidence that you are on the wrong path. Jonathan’s journey was flanked by cliffs named “slippery” and “thorny,” reminding us that God’s promises do not always come with smooth roads. The challenge is to persevere, even when obedience is the hardest option available. [48:53]
• 4. Faith Is Courage to Move in the “Perhaps” True faith is not the absence of uncertainty, but the willingness to act despite it. Jonathan’s “perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf” is a model for stepping out when the outcome is unknown. God often works through what seems foolish or impossible, so that our trust remains in Him rather than in our own plans. [53:09]
• 5. Victory Is Rooted in God’s Presence, Not Our Plans Our confidence should not rest in our strategies or qualifications, but in the God who has been faithful before and will be faithful again. The cross itself was a plan that defied human wisdom, yet it brought ultimate victory. In every battle, it is the God within us—and the blood of Christ that covers us—that secures our triumph, not our own strength or certainty. [67:45]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Preparing for Communion
• [02:10] - Reading 1 Samuel 14:1-15
• [06:00] - God’s Call in Uncertainty
• [08:00] - The Role of the Holy Spirit Within
• [10:00] - Confirming What God Has Placed in You
• [12:00] - When God Gives No Details
• [14:00] - The Danger of Passivity
• [16:00] - Guarding Your God-Given Dreams
• [18:00] - The Value of Faithful Companions
• [20:00] - The Slippery and Thorny Path
• [22:00] - Moving Forward in the “Perhaps”
• [24:00] - God’s Pattern: Trust Over Details
• [27:00] - Communion: Remembering the Cross
• [32:00] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Reading

1 Samuel 14:1–15 (NIV) —
> One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.
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> On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez, and the other Seneh. One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba.
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> Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
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> “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
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> Jonathan said, “Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”
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> So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.” The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”
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> So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”
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> Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
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> Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.

Observation Questions

1. What was Jonathan’s approach to the Philistine threat, and how did it differ from Saul and Ahitub’s response? ([41:10])
2. What did Jonathan say to his armor-bearer about the possibility of God acting on their behalf? ([40:03])
3. What were the names and meanings of the two cliffs Jonathan and his armor-bearer had to pass between, and what might these names suggest about the journey? ([48:53])
4. How did the armor-bearer respond to Jonathan’s plan, and why is this significant in the story? ([43:21])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jonathan chose not to tell his father Saul or the priest Ahitub about his plan? What does this suggest about sharing God-given dreams? ([43:21])
2. The sermon mentions that God often gives us a “tug” in our hearts without all the details. Why might God choose to work this way, and how does it affect our faith? ([40:03])
3. The path Jonathan took was flanked by cliffs called “slippery” and “thorny.” What does this detail teach us about the nature of obedience and following God’s call? ([48:53])
4. Jonathan’s words, “Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf,” show a willingness to move forward without certainty. How does this “perhaps” kind of faith differ from waiting for absolute clarity? ([53:09])

Application Questions

1. Can you think of a time when you felt a “tug” from God to do something, but you didn’t have all the details? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([40:03])
2. Are there dreams or callings you feel God has placed in your heart that you’ve been hesitant to share? How do you decide who to trust with these dreams, and have you ever shared with the wrong person? ([43:21])
3. The sermon warns that obedience to God doesn’t guarantee an easy path. Is there an area in your life right now where following God feels especially “slippery” or “thorny”? How are you handling it? ([48:53])
4. Who are the “armor-bearers” in your life—those who encourage you to step out in faith? How can you be an armor-bearer for someone else this week? ([43:21])
5. Jonathan and his armor-bearer moved forward even when they had to crawl. Is there something God is calling you to do right now, even if you feel you can only “crawl” toward it? What would it look like to take a small step of faith? ([53:09])
6. The sermon says our confidence should be in “who” God is, not in our own plans or abilities. Are there areas where you’ve been relying more on your own strategies than on God’s presence? What would it look like to shift your trust? ([54:25])
7. As we remember Christ’s sacrifice, we’re reminded that God’s greatest victory came through what looked like a foolish plan. How does this truth encourage you when God’s ways don’t make sense in your own life? ([01:07:45])