Have you ever stood at a crossroads on your leadership journey, knowing the right thing to do—but not knowing how it would turn out?
I have.
There have been moments in my career when the decision in front of me carried real risk. Speaking up could cost influence. Taking a stand could jeopardize relationships. Moving forward could lead to failure. And in those moments, I found myself wishing for certainty—some unmistakable sign from God that everything would work out.
But Scripture offers something different.
Instead of certainty, it often gives us something far more challenging—and far more powerful: the opportunity to trust God without knowing the outcome.
One of the clearest examples of this comes from Jonathan, the son of King Saul.
Israel was in a desperate situation. The Philistines held every advantage—more troops, better positioning, and far superior weaponry. In fact, the Israelite army was so poorly equipped that only Saul and Jonathan even had swords (1 Samuel 13:22). The rest of the men were essentially defenseless. To make matters worse, Saul had grown hesitant and passive, sitting under a tree while the enemy pressed in.
But Jonathan saw things differently.
Without fanfare, he and his armor-bearer slipped away from camp and approached a heavily guarded Philistine outpost—just the two of them against an entire garrison. Standing at the edge of overwhelming odds, Jonathan turned to his armor-bearer and said:
“Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6)
“Perhaps.”
Not certainty. Not a guarantee. Just a step of faith rooted in who God is.
And that’s where real leadership begins.
The Tension Every Leader Feels
As leaders, we often want clarity before we act. We want outcomes before obedience. We want assurance before risk.
But faith doesn’t work that way.
Faith operates in the space between what we know about God and what we don’t know about the outcome.
Jonathan knew two things:
- God is able to save.
- God is not limited by circumstances.
What he didn’t know was whether God would act in that specific moment.
So, he moved forward anyway.
That’s the tension. And if you lead long enough, you will feel it.
Biblical Leaders Who Lived in the “Perhaps”
Jonathan wasn’t alone. Scripture is filled with leaders who acted without guarantees—yet moved forward in faith. These stories inspire us to act boldly despite uncertainty.
1. Courage Without Certainty: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
When threatened with the fiery furnace, these men declared:
“The God we serve is able to deliver us… But even if He does not, we will not serve your gods.” (Daniel 3:17–18)
They believed in God’s power—but they didn’t demand a specific outcome.
What happened?
God delivered them in a miraculous way.
Leadership insight: Faith is not about predicting outcomes; it’s about remaining faithful regardless of outcomes.
2. Obedience at Personal Risk: Esther
Esther faced a life-or-death decision. Approaching the king uninvited could cost her everything. Yet she said:
“If I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16)
She acted without certainty—but with conviction.
What happened?
God used her courage to save an entire nation.
Leadership insight: God often works through leaders who act before they feel safe.
3. Strength with Surrender: Joab
Before going into battle, Joab encouraged his brother:
“Be strong… Let us fight bravely… May the Lord do what seems good to Him.” (2 Samuel 10:12)
That’s a leader who understands both responsibility and surrender.
What happened?
Victory followed—but only after stepping into uncertainty.
Leadership insight: Do your part faithfully, then release the outcome to God.
4. Bold Action Rooted in Trust: David
David stepped onto the battlefield against Goliath with confidence in God—but not control over the outcome.
David doesn’t use the word “perhaps,” but the posture is similar. He says:
“The Lord who rescued me… will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”(1 Samuel 17)
He trusted what God had done before and acted accordingly.
What happened?
God delivered an unexpected victory.
Leadership insight: Confidence in God’s past faithfulness fuels present obedience.
What Happens When Leaders Step Forward Anyway
Here’s what’s remarkable: in many of these cases, God did intervene powerfully.
But that’s not the main point.
The deeper truth is this:
God honors the leader who steps forward in faith—even when the outcome is uncertain.
Sometimes He delivers dramatically.
Sometimes He works quietly.
Sometimes the outcome looks different than expected.
But He always works.
And more importantly—He shapes the leader in the process.
The Danger of Waiting for Certainty
One of the greatest risks for Christian leaders today is not failure—it’s hesitation.
We delay decisions.
We avoid hard conversations.
We wait for perfect clarity that never comes.
And in doing so, we miss opportunities God has already placed in front of us.
Jonathan didn’t wait for a sign.
Esther didn’t wait for safety.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t wait for guarantees.
They moved forward with a simple, powerful mindset:
“God is able… and that’s enough for me to act.”
Conclusion: When “Perhaps” Is Enough
Jonathan’s words are not a statement of doubt—they are a declaration of trust.
He didn’t need to know what God would do.
He only needed to know what God could do.
And that was enough to move forward.
As leaders, we will rarely have complete clarity. But we always have enough to take the next step.
So the question isn’t, “Do I know how this will turn out?”
The question is:
“Do I trust God enough to act—even when I don’t?”
Sometimes, “perhaps the Lord” is all the certainty you’ll get.
And often—it’s all you need.
Action Steps for Leaders
When you find yourself in a “perhaps the Lord” moment, here are five ways to respond:
- Anchor Yourself in What You Know About God
Before acting, remind yourself of God’s character—His power, faithfulness, and sovereignty. Let truth guide your courage.
- Clarify the Right Thing to Do
Don’t wait for certainty about outcomes. Focus on obedience. Ask: What is the right, God-honoring step in front of me?
- Take the Next Step—Even If It’s Small
Faith rarely requires a leap all at once. Often, it begins with one step forward.
- Release the Outcome to God
Do your part—but resist the temptation to control results. That belongs to Him.
- Reflect on God’s Faithfulness
Afterward, take time to look back. You’ll often see God’s hand more clearly in hindsight.
Discussion Questions
For deeper reflection or group discussion:
- Where in your leadership are you currently waiting for certainty before acting?
- What is one decision you know is right—but have hesitated to take?
- How does Jonathan’s “perhaps the Lord” challenge your view of faith?
- Which biblical example resonates most with your current situation—and why?
- How can you practically trust God with outcomes this week?
More Articles
I have written several articles on dependence on God. You can find them by typing ‘Dependence on God’ in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of the most recent articles.
- #686: The Danger of Hesitant Obedience to God
- #680: Spirit-Filled Leadership: Why Christian Leaders Must Be Led by the Holy Spirit
- #674: Killing Our Giants: Stepping into God’s Best for Your Life
- #672: New Beginnings with God: How to Step into the New Year with Faith and Courage
- #671: Looking Back, Moving Forward: Trusting God with Every Season
Join the Conversation
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Category: Personal Development | Dependence on God
Of course, sometimes a faithful leader follows the “Perhaps the Lord” act of faith, does the right thing, and loses the battle. Things don’t go as planned. It’s happened to me. I “did the right thing” and yet the outcome was not what I’d hoped for. I think this is when one’s faith is truly tested. And we must remind ourselves that God’s vision and designs are sometimes beyond our comprehension.
That’s the hard part isn’t it, John? In the midst of a disappointing outcome, remembering that God’s vision and His plans are best even if we don’t understand ourselves.