Hello,<\/p>\n
I feel so bad, so guilty, so scared to lose my salvation because I’ve been ill and feel like I lost my first love. I was so active in the church, at home, and in my hobbies. I can do the bare minimum at home, and I’ve cut my work hours to a few per week to keep my health insurance. For God’s work, I only have one student online once a week. I’m a Bible class teacher for little ones; I don’t feel like I’m putting in much effort there. I teach a women’s class online every other week; not much effort there, either. I don’t like TV, and I’ve been watching TV lately, but I can’t find the will to preach to others to get more students. When I have good moments, I work a little and also do household chores.<\/p>\n
What can I do? Any advice?<\/p>\n
By the way, my illness is not that bad. I’ve had sleep apnea all my life due to jaw malformation, but I guess now in my 50s it’s caught up with me. It’s untreated due to my jaw issues. My oxygen drops to 83% all night (just found out), and I stop breathing every 1.5 minutes. I’ve found a solution, and I’m working towards getting better, but for now, I feel so scared. I’m embarrassed to constantly ask God for forgiveness. Why ask if I’m not changing my ways?<\/p>\n
I feel so bad because I feel lazy and irresponsible to God. I can do other work, but I can’t do more for Him. In all honesty, what I do for Him doesn’t feel like much; it doesn’t cost me much effort.<\/p>\n
Sincerely in Christ.<\/p>\n\t
People have a strong tendency to measure themselves against other people, including their past selves. Some can’t let go of their past mistakes, to which Paul said, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus<\/em>” (Philippians 3:13-14). That same advice applies to past accomplishments. All the things you’ve done in the past are wonderful, and I’m glad to hear that you are not sitting back.<\/p>\n You are doing what your health allows. You would like to do more, and you are approaching the problem correctly by addressing the core issue (your sleep apnea). However, while you are healing, don’t discredit what you are doing. To your students, the children you teach, and the women in your class, you are important. After all these years of teaching, it seems easy, but it is no less important.<\/p>\n If you are looking for some additional challenge, consider writing lessons and articles. You find teaching easy, so teach others to teach (II Timothy 2:2).<\/p>\n Instead of fighting to do all the things you used to handle, find what you can do. God is not looking for you to work your way into heaven. All the things we do cannot make up for our past sins. Yet, God’s rich mercy offers us salvation, and in appreciation, we do what we can to serve Him.<\/p>\n This isn’t an issue of laziness or sin. It is a matter of failing health and approaching old age. It requires adapting to your limitations and making the most of what you have. Don’t waste time wishing for what you don’t have.<\/p>\n\t Thank you, brother Hamilton. I’ll keep that in mind and look for other ways to serve.<\/p>\n We are members of the Lord’s Church and have been traveling to other countries to preach.\u00a0 We are helping to guide the few members in a congregation.\u00a0 My husband would like to improve his prayers during service.\u00a0 He’s asked me for help, but I’m very afraid to cross the line. In what way could I help him?<\/p>\n Maybe there’s a way for me to do some simpler things for God’s Work.<\/p>\n\t There is no reason you can’t point out some passages that might help your husband improve his prayers, or find him a book that you think addresses the issues well, or even give him encouragement when he makes progress. The thing to avoid is telling him what he must do.<\/p>\n\t Ok, thank you.<\/p>\n I truly appreciate your advice and the work you do.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: Hello, I feel so bad, so guilty, so scared to lose my salvation because I’ve been ill and feel like I lost my first love. I was so active in the church, at home, and in my hobbies. I can do the bare minimum at home, and I’ve cut my work hours to a…<\/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_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[1543,908],"class_list":["post-96677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-good-works","tag-health"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":54875,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/has-la-vistas-site-helped-the-congregations-visibility\/","url_meta":{"origin":96677,"position":0},"title":"Has La Vista’s site helped the congregation’s visibility?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi Brother, I really like La Vista's website and have been trying to convince our men that, in order to increase our visibility and effectiveness in the area, we should do something similar. I've suggested we include God's word on subjects such as baptism and various sins in general,\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":43281,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-cant-stop-harming-myself\/","url_meta":{"origin":96677,"position":1},"title":"I can’t stop harming myself","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 19, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I've been self-harming (cutting myself) since I was 11. I am now 17. That's a long time and I still keep doing it. Nothing seems to stop me. My depression even got bad to the point that I've attempted suicide multiple times. I am now on medications for\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":67190,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/thanks-for-the-help-with-my-ocd\/","url_meta":{"origin":96677,"position":2},"title":"Thanks for the help with my OCD","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Thanks so much for all the help you have given me over the years. Answering questions by email and speaking to me on the phone. I am very thankful. I have truly learned so much over the years. I got hooked up with NOCD last year, and the counselor\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":62470,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-god-want-me-to-lose-everything\/","url_meta":{"origin":96677,"position":3},"title":"Does God want me to lose everything?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 2, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear Pastor Hamilton: Thank you for always answering emails throughout the many years. I'm writing you to say that I lost my job. I thought it was God's will for me to be at this job because it was only a block away from my home, it matched 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":44367,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-god-hate-me\/","url_meta":{"origin":96677,"position":4},"title":"Does God hate me?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello sir, I've often thought of this but would like some clarity if that is OK. I have been looking at the advice you give others online, and you give really good and useful advice! I guess my question is, why does God make me suffer? Does he hate\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":17517,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-you-keep-doing-right-when-others-react-badly\/","url_meta":{"origin":96677,"position":5},"title":"How do you keep doing right when others react badly?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 22, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I feel like I need some words of encouragement and counsel on a personal issue. Thank you in advance for taking the time to give me a scriptural response that I can apply to my personal life. May God bless you in your efforts. What I'm trying to do\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":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96677"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96677\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Question:<\/h2>\n
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