Thank you, Jeffrey, for the writings that you have shared with me. It is uplifting to know that I still have hope. I frequently get discouraged and I try to stay in the word. It helps me stay firm when I hear someone speak the truth in a sensible way. I think Satan has a couple of verses that he likes to twist around to make me feel worthless and that’s exactly what he does.\u00a0 There is a young college boy at our congregation that has had some similar problems that I had when I was in college, and I try to encourage him as best I can because I know what he’s going through and how easy it is to be discouraged.<\/p>\n
Again, thank you so much for your kindness.<\/p>\n\t
I can’t think of a greater encouragement than to hear that someone is passing on what they have learned to help others.<\/p>\n
“For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth<\/em>” (III John 3-4).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Thank you, Jeffrey, for the writings that you have shared with me. It is uplifting to know that I still have hope. I frequently get discouraged and I try to stay in the word. It helps me stay firm when I hear someone speak the truth in a sensible way. I think Satan has…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[127,451],"class_list":["post-37168","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-about-this-site","tag-teaching"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":46476,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-the-best-way-to-lovingly-tell-someone-they-are-wrong\/","url_meta":{"origin":37168,"position":0},"title":"What is the best way to lovingly tell someone they are wrong?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 9, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In your opinion what is the best way to tell someone that they are wrong but loved? If someone is a homosexual, how can you tell them that their actions are wrong in a loving way? It seems like you need to strike a delicate balance there. Answer: \"But\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":32289,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-want-a-god-fearing-husband-but-my-boyfriend-doesnt-seem-to-be-that-interested\/","url_meta":{"origin":37168,"position":1},"title":"I want a God-fearing husband, but my boyfriend doesn’t seem to be that interested","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 26, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have been seeking God more than I have before. My life for God has definitely strengthened. However, I have sought God about the situation of my boyfriend. To be honest it seems as if I have to keep my boyfriend in the Word. He sure wants to marry,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51228,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-i-marry-someone-who-has-not-repented-of-the-sins-we-committed\/","url_meta":{"origin":37168,"position":2},"title":"Should I marry someone who has not repented of the sins we committed?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is it okay to marry someone who has not fully given in to salvation and has not repented for the fornication we've done in the past? I have been with him for over ten years. We've had several breakups but we still made up. I decided to give my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20742,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-want-to-see-a-girl-but-i-think-god-wants-me-here-what-should-i-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":37168,"position":3},"title":"I want to see a girl, but I think God wants me here. What should I do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 4, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have liked, probably loved, a girl for going on seven years, and never really tried to pursue her. There is a problem, she is definitely a desire of my heart, I do desire her, not in a lustful way, I just want to be around her. The problem\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":85100,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/discouragement-or-encouragement\/","url_meta":{"origin":37168,"position":4},"title":"Discouragement or Encouragement","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Joe Works The Bad News I have a confession \u2026 I sometimes feel discouraged, and you may be my source of discouragement. I generally consider myself a pretty happy guy, so I hope my discouragement comes as a little shock to you. Social media, for me, is a place\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":56095,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/encouragement-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":37168,"position":5},"title":"Encouragement","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 24, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"by Steven Harper\u00a0 Previously,\u00a0we considered the problem of\u00a0discouragement, which [by definition] is depriving one of courage; this week, let us consider its opposite:\u00a0encouragement. Encouragement, by definition, is\u00a0to inspire with courage. 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