We often think of faith as certainty. A solid, unshakable confidence. And in many ways, it is. But what if I told you that real faith also involves curiosity? That it means asking hard questions, embracing mystery, and sometimes walking without a map?
That idea might seem strange at first, but it’s exactly what we’ve been exploring in my Master’s class. One of the voices that has really spoken to me recently is Mark Matlock in his book “Faith for the Curious,” who suggested something profound: The nature of the faith journey is curiosity.
Now, that might not be what we’ve always been taught. Many of us were raised to believe that faith meant having all the right answers, or at least pretending like we did. But Matlock challenges that mindset. He invites us into a deeper, more honest walk with God – one that makes space for questions, doubts, and wonder.
As he puts it, living a curious life means being willing to wrestle with uncertainty. It means listening to people who see the world differently. It means seeking truth, not just through head knowledge, but through Scripture, prayer, and community. That kind of faith doesn’t shrink back from the unknown; it leans in.
Matlock also gives a warning: curiosity without humility can lead to prideful intellectualism. We can become so caught up in ideas that we forget love. But when humility drives our curiosity, it leads to something beautiful – transformation. In ourselves. In our relationships. In our communities.
This idea of curious faith isn’t new, by the way. Scripture is full of people who asked questions, wrestled with God, and dared to step into the unknown.
Take Abraham, for instance. God told him, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1, NKJV). No GPS. No detailed itinerary. Just go. And Abraham went, curious, trusting, not knowing where the path would lead but believing in the One who called him.
Or consider Mary, the mother of Jesus. When the angel told her she would bear the Son of God, her first response wasn’t “Okay, cool.” It was a question: “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (Luke 1:34, NKJV). She was curious. Honest. And God didn’t rebuke her for that, He responded with grace and revelation.
Even Jesus invited curiosity. He asked more than 300 questions in the Gospels and often answered questions with… more questions. His invitation was never “follow me because you have it all figured out.” It was “Come and see” (John 1:39, NKJV).
That’s the kind of faith journey I want to be on. One where curiosity is welcome. Where mystery isn’t a threat, but a doorway into a deeper relationship with God.
But if curiosity is one part of the journey, then patience is the other. And if I’m being honest, that’s the harder one for me.
I want growth now. Results now. I want to plant the seed and see the fruit the next day. But God’s timeline rarely matches mine. Scripture reminds us, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NKJV).
And Jesus used agricultural metaphors for a reason – faith grows like a seed. Slowly. Often beneath the surface. Paul reminded the church in Galatia, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9, NKJV).
I’m learning to be okay with being the sower, not the reaper. Or the plowman, not the one celebrating the harvest. Patience means trusting that the process matters just as much as the outcome.
And that brings me to a moment I won’t forget – a personal milestone in my faith journey.
It happened just a few months ago, at the dinner table. We were facing a financial challenge, something we needed to do that required provision. As a family, we were wrestling with what it really meant to trust God in that moment. If the money didn’t come through, was that a sign it wasn’t meant to be? Or were we supposed to step out in faith anyway?
So I asked one of my sons what he thought it meant to “live by faith.” He paused, looked up, and said something I’ll never forget: “Living by faith means there is no Plan B.”
That hit me like a lightning bolt. A holy moment.
Here was my child, stepping into his own faith, speaking a truth that convicted and comforted me at the same time. No Plan B. Just God. That simple sentence has stayed with me ever since, especially now as we walk through the church planting process.
See, planting a church is one of the biggest steps of faith I’ve ever taken. We’re starting Life Chapel here in Franklin, a Spirit-filled, life-giving church that’s all about winning the lost and making disciples. There’s no safety net, no big budget, no guaranteed outcome. Just a calling. A community. And the belief that God is faithful.
There are days it feels overwhelming. Like when resources are tight or the to-do list is long. But then I remember my son’s words, “There is no Plan B.”
And I remember God’s promises.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6, NKJV)
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV)
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3, NKJV)
So here we are. On a journey marked by curiosity, patience, and faith. A journey with no Plan B.
If you’re in a season where God feels distant or the answers aren’t clear, let me encourage you: stay curious. Don’t be afraid of the questions. Embrace the mystery. Invite Jesus into the wondering.
And if you’re tired of waiting – if the fruit hasn’t come and you’re weary from sowing, don’t give up. Trust the process. Stay faithful in the season you’re in.
Finally, if you’re looking for a church home or simply want to be part of something new, we’d love to invite you to join us.
Life Chapel is meeting each Sunday at 11 a.m. at Macon Middle School. We’re gathering a launch team right now – people who want to help build something from the ground up. If you’ve ever wanted to be part of a Spirit-filled, life-giving work, now is the time.
No pressure. No perfect people. Just real people on a real journey with a real God.
Let’s walk it together, with curiosity, with patience, and with no Plan B.
Pictured Top: LIFE CHAPEL Pastors JD Woodside and his wife Angie, and children (L-R) Jaden, Julian, Jensen, and Ava.