Can You Really Trust Your Sources?
Discernment, leadership, and the responsibility of influence.
By Jana N. Yost
We live in a time where information is everywhere. News alerts, social media posts, podcasts, blogs, and endless opinions. Everyone seems to have a source or a statistic that supports what they believe. The challenge today is not access to information. The challenge is knowing whether the source is trustworthy.
Artificial intelligence is one of the newest tools shaping how people gather information. Used wisely, it can be helpful for organizing ideas, researching topics, and learning quickly. But AI was never meant to replace discernment. It pulls from existing information and patterns, which means the responsibility still falls on the person using it to question, verify, and think critically. When people treat technology as the authority instead of a tool, it can easily become misleading or impersonal.
Social media has created a similar challenge. We are often quick to trust influencers, even when we know very little about their credentials or experience. Anyone can call themselves a coach, an expert, or a guide online. Titles are easy to claim, but real expertise takes years of education, training, and accountability. As someone trained as a therapist, I am careful about that responsibility. I am not fully licensed yet, and because of that you will not see me offering therapy on social media or through my website. Ethical leadership requires knowing the boundaries of your role.
Discernment matters even more when you are in leadership. People who respect you may trust what you say without questioning it. That influence carries weight. Leaders should take seriously the responsibility to examine the information they repeat and the voices they elevate. At the same time, it is healthy for people to ask questions of those in leadership. Thoughtful questions are not disrespectful. They are part of accountability. Good leaders should welcome them and be prepared to give an answer in season and out of season.
Biblical wisdom reminds us that truth is not measured by popularity, influence, or wealth. Success does not automatically mean someone knows what they are doing. Scripture teaches us to stay rooted in the Word of God and attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we remain grounded in that foundation, we develop the discernment to recognize wisdom from noise.
In a world full of voices, the goal is not to know everything. The goal is to know which sources deserve our trust.
