What Do We Actually Know?
Faithful discernment begins with humility about both what we see and what we may not yet see.
None of us sees a difficult situation from every vantage point. We bring experience that may help us recognize important dynamics. We also bring assumptions that can affect how we understand what we see.
As followers of Christ, our goal is not to defend our perspective, but to understand what is true and respond in ways that reflect Him. Jesus said, “Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment” (John 7:24, CSB).
This requires humility.
Last month, we considered some of the factors that can influence the weight we give to what we hear. Humility leaves room to say, I do not know everything yet. It’s possible that someone else knows or sees something I don’t.
What does that look like in practice?
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In earlier newsletters, we considered the importance of listening carefully, asking good questions, and seeking additional information when accounts differ. We also considered why protecting those who may be vulnerable does not require a verdict.
These practices remain important. But even after we have listened and gathered what we can, another question remains:
What do we actually know?
When We Do Not Have the Whole Picture
Proverbs tells us,
“The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.”
—Proverbs 18:17, CSB
The proverb does not tell us the second account is necessarily right. It reminds us the first account may not be all there is to know.
Sometimes additional information brings clarity. Sometimes it raises more questions, and sometimes important information remains unavailable. Fear, previous responses, or uncertainty about what will happen with the information may also affect what someone is willing to share. The fact that we have not been told something does not necessarily mean there is nothing more to know.
One way humility helps us is by distinguishing what is known, reported, inferred, and still unknown.
Known. What can we establish through observation, documentation, or reasonable verification?
Reported. What has someone told us happened? A report is important information. Calling it reported simply identifies how we received it.
Inferred. What conclusions are we drawing from what we know or have been told? An inference may be well-supported while still being an inference.
Unknown. What do we simply not know? Sometimes the most truthful answer is, I don’t know.
Humility Helps Us Handle Truth Faithfully
These distinctions matter because certainty can grow without our realizing it.
We hear something. We connect it with what we have experienced before. An explanation makes sense to us. Before long, what we think may have happened can begin to sound like what we know happened.
Our experience can be genuinely valuable. It may help us recognize dynamics others miss. Likewise, someone else’s experience or perspective may help us see something we have not yet learned to see.
We need one another.
Faithful discernment requires honesty about what the information allows us to say. It also requires humility when new information challenges what we first understood.
Pursuing Truth Together
We will not always interpret difficult situations correctly. None of us has perfect knowledge or perspective. We do not expect everything we hear to be truthful, nor do we perfectly understand or interpret everything we hear.
What we are praying and looking for is God’s perspective on the situation and each individual—including ourselves. As followers of Christ, we want our response to reflect Him: His truth and compassion, His wisdom and humility, His concern for those who are vulnerable, and His willingness to confront what is wrong.
This does not mean we cannot know anything with confidence. Nor does uncertainty require passivity. There are times when wisdom calls us to protect someone while important questions remain unanswered.
We do not honor Christ by claiming certainty we do not possess. Nor do we honor Him by refusing to act faithfully regarding what we do know.
We want to see what is true, respond to what is true, and remain open to the Holy Spirit’s correction in what we have misunderstood. In doing so, our goal is not simply better discernment. It is greater faithfulness to Christ.
Thank you for your love of Christ and your commitment to caring wisely and faithfully for those facing difficult situations.
Gratefully,
Clarity in Action Ministries’ Board of Directors
Sydney Millage Floyd Yutzy Stephen Thomas
Kimberly Gingerich Angi Beery
“For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:5-6)
Because prayer is vital to our lives, you are invited to join us in prayer the first Tuesday of each month from 4:00-5:00 p.m. CST. Send an email to connect@clarityministry.org and request a Zoom link for our monthly prayer meeting.
Upcoming Trainings and Conferences
Light in the Darkness Trainings:
Grace Fellowship Church, Florence, KY, November 13-14, 2026
Springs of Life Church, Cedar Rapids, IA, November 21, 2026 (register here)
Westchester Evangelical Free Church, Des Moines, IA, January 9, 2027
Conferences:
Peace Works Live, Winfield, WV, September 24-26, 2026
Hope Together Conference, Allen, TX, October 1-3, 2026
Christian Counseling and Education Foundation, Virginia Beach, VA, October 16-18, 2026
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