These days, the world feels impossibly loud. Everyone seems to have a platform, an opinion, a hot take. From headlines to hashtags, it’s hard to go more than a few minutes without being told what to believe, who to trust, what to fear—or worse, who deserves redemption and who doesn’t.
And I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately.
Not just as a dentist, or a mother of two sons, or someone who lives and works in beautiful, dynamic Mill Valley—but as a Christian. A woman of faith. A believer in truth that doesn’t shift with trends or hashtags.
There’s something unsettling about the way today’s culture gives so much moral authority to voices that are still learning how to listen. We live in a time where 22-year-olds—with barely a fully formed sense of self—are encouraged to decide what’s right and what’s wrong, who is “acceptable,” and, chillingly, who deserves to live or die.
I don’t mean that as an attack. I remember being 22. I thought I knew everything. I thought life was black and white and that I could solve the world’s problems if only people would listen. That certainty is intoxicating—and dangerous.
Because without God, certainty becomes arrogance. And arrogance, when it finds a microphone, often leads to judgment instead of justice.
The Danger of Man-Made Morality
Our world is full of passion, but very little peace. We are full of information, but starving for wisdom. And when truth becomes something we “vote” on—or worse, “cancel” out of existence—we lose sight of something sacred: the still, small voice of God.
In 1 Kings 19:12, God didn’t come to Elijah in the earthquake, or the fire, or the wind. He came in a whisper.
That whisper still speaks. But we have to want to hear it.
The Christian Way Isn’t Always Loud, But It’s Always Clear
I am not here to tell anyone how to vote, how to parent, or how to express themselves online. That’s not my role. But I do know this: Jesus didn’t ask us to shout down our enemies. He asked us to love them.
He asked us to walk humbly, seek truth, forgive endlessly, and hold fast to what is good.
He also reminded us—often—that the world would try to pull us in every direction but toward Him. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Living Faithfully in a Culture of Confusion
It’s not easy to hold to your faith in a culture that often calls it outdated, judgmental, or irrelevant. And yet, here I stand. Not to preach, but to offer encouragement:
- If you feel lost—pray.
- If the voices around you are too loud—open your Bible.
- If you’re overwhelmed—seek peace, not perfection.
- And if you’re wondering where God has gone—He hasn’t.
He’s right where He’s always been. Ready, patient, steady.
What I Teach My Sons
As a mother of two young men, I don’t pretend that faith has made our lives easier. It hasn’t. But it has made them anchored. When the world around them says, “Do what feels right,” I remind them to ask, “But is it good? Is it true? Is it loving?”
God’s Word isn’t always popular. But it is always loving. Always rooted in grace and justice and redemption.
Our sons don’t need to be perfect. They just need to stay close to the One who is.
Dentistry Isn’t the Point… But Also, It Is
Some people might wonder why a dentist is writing about this. After all, what does this have to do with teeth?
Well—everything, and nothing.
Because while my job is to restore oral health, my calling is to live with integrity. To serve people. To comfort the anxious. To offer care in a world that often feels careless.
I don’t have a pulpit. But I do have a platform. And if using it reminds even one person to turn down the noise and seek God instead, then I’ll keep writing.
Even if it’s not what people expect from a woman in scrubs.
A Gentle Invitation
If you’ve made it this far, thank you.
You may not agree with me. You may not share my beliefs. That’s okay.
But if your heart feels heavy… if the world feels too loud… if you’re tired of the chaos and craving something eternal—I invite you to seek the One who created you.
He’s not hiding. He’s whispering.
And His voice is the only one that will never lead you astray.
Call my office for an appointment at (415) 383-0824
With love and hope,
Dr. Frances H. Yankie, DDS
