Good morning, my brothers!  Moses had Aaron and Hur. David had Jonathan. Paul had Barnabas. The greatest men of God walked with brothers beside them. Every man needs a spiritual wingman. Who is yours? Let’s go! A 5-minute, 13-second read

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Every Man Needs a Wingman

I still remember seeing the original Top Gun in 1986. Like a lot of guys my age, it quickly became one of my favorite movies. So when Top Gun: Maverick came out a few years ago, I couldn’t wait to see it.

There is a moment near the end of the film that captures a truth about how men are meant to fight their battles.

The Most Dangerous Place a Pilot Can Be

Near the end of the film, Maverick and his team of Navy pilots are given a nearly impossible mission.

The target sits deep inside a narrow canyon surrounded by enemy defenses. To hit it, the pilots must fly at incredible speed just a few feet above the canyon floor, pull a near-vertical climb, drop their payload, and escape before missiles lock onto them.

There is almost no margin for error.

Before the mission begins, Maverick reminds the pilots of something every fighter pilot understands. It is one of the most fundamental rules of air combat.

No one flies into battle alone. Every pilot has a wingman.

The wingman flies slightly behind and beside the lead pilot. His job is to watch the sky that the lead cannot see. When danger approaches, the wingman calls it out before it is too late.

He protects the blind spots.

The wingman watches what you cannot see.

Turning Back Into the Battle

As the mission unfolds in the film, Maverick and his wingman, Rooster, dive into the canyon together. The canyon walls rush past them as alarms blare in the cockpit. Enemy radar begins locking onto their aircraft.

The pressure is immense.

They hit the target perfectly and pull into a steep climb to escape the blast zone. But just as they begin to break away, a missile locks onto Maverick’s jet.

Seconds later, the sky erupts. Back on the aircraft carrier, everyone assumes Maverick is gone.

But Rooster saw what happened.

And instead of flying to safety, he makes a decision that could cost him his life. He turns his jet around and flies straight back into the danger zone to find him.

Why?

Because that is what a wingman does.

A wingman does not disappear when the mission gets dangerous. He stays in the fight. and turns toward the battle when everyone else is flying away.

And the truth is, we all need that type of guy.

God Never Intended Us to Fight Alone

Many men live the Christian life like a solo mission.

We attend church. We read Scripture. We try to follow Jesus. But when it comes to the real battles of life, we often fight alone.

No one watching our blind spots.
No one encouraging us when we grow weary.
No one challenging us when we begin to drift.

Yet when you look through the pages of Scripture, you see something powerful: God rarely raises up men to walk alone.

Instead, He builds them in brotherhood.

When Moses’ Arms Grew Tired

Consider Moses.

In Exodus 17, Israel is fighting the Amalekites while Moses stands on a hill holding the staff of God. As long as his hands are raised, Israel prevails in battle.

But as the hours pass, Moses grows tired.

His arms begin to fall.

That is when Aaron and Hur step beside him. They lift Moses’ arms and hold them steady until sunset so Israel can win the battle.

Even one of the greatest leaders in the Bible needed men beside him when his strength ran out.

Every warrior eventually grows tired.

When David Needed Strength

Then there is David and Jonathan.

David is hiding in the wilderness while King Saul hunts him through the hills of Israel. Fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty surround him on every side.

Yet in one of the most powerful verses about friendship in Scripture, we read this:

Jonathan did not compete with David. He did not envy him. He strengthened David’s faith when fear threatened to overwhelm him.

That is what a wingman does.

A wingman reminds you of God when you start to forget.

When Barnabas Believed

Then we see Paul and Barnabas.

After Paul encountered Jesus on the Damascus road, the early church was afraid of him. They remembered the man who had persecuted believers. No one was sure if he could truly be trusted.

But Barnabas stepped forward.

Barnabas brought Paul to the apostles and vouched for him. He believed God was doing something real in Paul’s life, even as others were hesitant.

Without Barnabas, Paul might have remained on the outside looking in.

Barnabas believed in a man when others were fearful and doubting.

That is the power of an encouraging brother.

Who Is Your Wingman?

Every man has blind spots. Every man has moments when his arms grow tired. Every man faces battles that are too heavy to carry alone.

That is why Scripture says:

A spiritual wingman is not just a friend you grab lunch with occasionally. He is a brother who knows your life. He knows your struggles, your temptations, and the battles you are fighting. And you know his.

He speaks truth when you begin to drift. He reminds you who you are in Christ when discouragement creeps in. He challenges you to live at the standard God has called you to.

And when life gets hard, he stays in the fight with you.

Just like Rooster turning his jet back toward danger.

Where To Find Your Rooster

So let me ask you something.: Who is your wingman?

Who knows the real battles you are facing? Who strengthens your faith when you grow weary? Who refuses to let you quietly drift away from the Lord?

Who are you radically honest with, and he with you?

For many men reading this, the honest answer may be no one.

If that is you, take heart. Finding a wingman is not complicated, but it does require intentionality.

Start by looking around your church.

Look at the men in your small group or Bible study. Think about the man who takes his faith seriously, the one who speaks honestly about his struggles, the one who wants to grow.

Then take the initiative.

Ask him to grab coffee.

Tell him you are trying to grow as a man of God and you would value someone walking alongside you. Meet regularly, pray together, and talk honestly about the battles you are facing.

And if you have looked around your church and still see no one, let us know.

Email me at [email protected] and tell me your first name, age, and where you’re from. We’ll try to connect you with another man in the MTM community who is also looking for a wingman at a similar life stage.

We will make the digital introduction. The two of you take it from there...virtual wingmen.

Somewhere there is another man whose arms are getting tired.

He may be carrying a burden he has never shared. He may be fighting a battle he feels ashamed to talk about. And he may be waiting for someone to come alongside him.

Because God never intended us to fight the battles of faith alone.

Every man needs a wingman. And every man can be one.

A Simple Challenge for This Week

  -WIll