How to Think When Things are Hard
Lately the news seems determined to remind us how marred our world truly is. Reports of violent confrontations involving federal agents and civilians in Minnesota, protests over the use of force, and heart‑wrenching international tragedy in Iran all compete for our attention in a world groaning under sin and suffering.
And then to many in the church came news that Christian author Philip Yancey publicly acknowledged an eight‑year adulterous relationship, announcing that he will step back from writing, speaking, and ministry.
It’s tempting to just react– to pick a political side, issue talking points, or craft social‑media slogans. But as followers of Christ, we are called not merely to think fast but to think deeply, which is why the book of Proverbs is extremely timely for us in such a tumultuous moment. The book of Proverbs reminds us again and again that wisdom isn’t a formula; it’s a posture of the heart shaped by God.
As we think about the events surrounding Philip Yancy in particular, here are a few ways we need to apply the book of Proverbs specifically to this situation.
1. Foolishness Is the default of the human heart
Solomon opens his collection of proverbs with a stark reality: the human heart naturally gravitates toward folly. Our first inclination isn’t wisdom, holiness, or self‑sacrifice — it is self‑interest, impulsiveness, and the desire to justify ourselves. Proverbs 14:12 warns that “there is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end it leads to death.” That applies as much to the secret struggles of a respected author as it does to leaders handling public safety and enforcement.
Sin isn’t only what we do in public. It begins in the heart (as we just looked at from Proverbs 2) where hidden desires, long‑nurtured secrets, and unexamined motives can take root (Proverbs 4:23). And left unguarded, they bring ruin, not only for the one who falls, but for the families and communities around them.
2. Sin’s consequences are real, even when hidden
Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” In Philip Yancey’s case, a long period of secret sin was finally brought into the light. His confession and his decision to step back reflect a painful but necessary confrontation with reality.
Similarly, when a community is shattered by violence, whether it’s a tragic shooting in the streets of Minneapolis or the violent upheavals in distant countries we see the consequence of decisions made behind the scenes: fear, anger, grief, and division. These events are not random; they are the visible fruit of a world that groans under sin’s weight (Romans 8:22).
3. Wisdom calls us to discernment, not shallow certainty
One of Proverbs’ strongest themes is the danger of pretension–claiming to know God while ignoring the hard work of examining ourselves. Proverbs 16:2 tells us, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” This calls believers to humility (a call echoed throughout the book of Proverbs). We must pause before rushing to judgment, to pray before we pontificate, and to hear before we speak.
It also calls the church to be a community where truth is spoken with love, not weaponized as a cultural cudgel. When a beloved Christian voice stumbles, our response shouldn’t be gloating or silence, it should be grief, confession, compassion, and a renewed call to wisdom.
4. God offers mercy and restoration
Proverbs is honest about judgment, but it doesn’t leave us in despair. The same God who warns us about hidden folly says that the one who turns from sin will find mercy (Proverbs 28:13). This is the gospel! Repentance isn’t merely feeling bad about sin; it is turning toward God and away from self‑destructive patterns–knowing that when we do we find the immeasurable grace and forgiveness of the One who is all wise.
This is why our response to public moral failures, whether in the halls of power, among federal agents, or in the lives of Christian leaders, must be grounded in gospel hope. We mourn with those who mourn, we seek justice with humility, and we don’t abandon the hard work of prayerful reflection.
So what now?
As believers, we need more than opinions. We need wisdom. That deep, rooted, patient insight Scripture calls us to pursue.
Let us be people who guard our hearts diligently (Proverbs 4:23), which is often done best in community with other believers.
Let us be quick to pray for all those involved in order to keep us from pessimism.
Let us confess and turn when we discover sin rather than hide it (Proverbs 28:13).
Let us seek justice and peace in our communities without succumbing to rage or divisiveness (Proverbs 21:15).
In a world marked by tragedy, betrayal, and moral failure, the wisdom of Proverbs calls not to retreat into cynicism but to redeem our hearts and renew our minds in Christ, the source of true understanding (Colossians 2:2‑3).
Pastor Jeremy
