Finding Strength and Joy in God's Vision

 

Summary

In today's message, I shared the inspiring story of Mabel, a woman whose life exemplifies a vision worth dedicating one's life to—a vision rooted in the kingdom of God. Mabel lived in a state-run convalescent hospital, a place filled with loneliness and despair. Despite her circumstances—blindness, deafness, and cancer—Mabel possessed an extraordinary inner strength and peace that came from her deep relationship with Jesus. Her life was a testament to the power of a vision centered on God's kingdom, a vision that sustained her through decades of suffering and solitude.

Mabel's story challenges us to reflect on our own lives and the vision we hold. Her ability to find joy and purpose in the midst of pain was not due to her circumstances but because of her unwavering faith and the power she received from God. She spent her days thinking about Jesus, reciting scripture, and singing hymns, which were not just acts of memory but expressions of her deep connection with God. Mabel's life was a living example of Psalm 23, where even in the valley of the shadow of death, she feared no evil because of her trust in God.

This story invites us to consider what vision we are living for. Is it a vision that can sustain us through life's challenges? Is it a vision that aligns with the kingdom of God, offering us the power to endure and find peace in any circumstance? Mabel's life encourages us to seek a vision that is not about accumulating material wealth or climbing social ladders but about living in the presence and power of God. May we, like Mabel, find our strength and joy in Jesus, making His vision a reality in our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- Vision Beyond Circumstances: Mabel's life teaches us that a vision rooted in God's kingdom can sustain us through any circumstance. Her unwavering faith and focus on Jesus allowed her to find peace and purpose despite her suffering. This challenges us to evaluate our own vision and ensure it is centered on something eternal and meaningful. [09:24]

- Power in Weakness: Mabel's story illustrates the incredible power that comes from a deep relationship with God. Despite her physical limitations, she possessed a supernatural strength that enabled her to endure and even thrive in her situation. This reminds us that true power is not found in our abilities but in our connection with God. [07:39]

- Joy in Jesus: Mabel's joy was not dependent on her circumstances but on her relationship with Jesus. Her ability to sing hymns and express gratitude in the midst of pain challenges us to find our joy in Christ, who is our strength and comfort in all situations. [06:33]

- Living Psalm 23: Mabel's life was a living embodiment of Psalm 23, where she feared no evil despite walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Her story encourages us to trust in God's presence and provision, knowing that He is with us in every trial. [08:32]

- Reflecting on Our Vision: Mabel's story invites us to reflect on the vision we have for our lives. It must be more than just material success or personal achievements; it should be a vision that aligns with God's kingdom and gives us the power to endure life's challenges with grace and faith. [09:10]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:32] - Vision Worth Living For
- [01:07] - Mabel's Story Begins
- [01:39] - Encountering Mabel
- [02:47] - Mabel's Response
- [03:37] - Learning Mabel's History
- [04:25] - Friendship with Mabel
- [05:17] - Mabel's Thoughts on Jesus
- [06:33] - Mabel's Hymn of Joy
- [07:27] - Mabel's Extraordinary Power
- [08:32] - Psalm 23 in Mabel's Life
- [09:10] - Reflecting on Our Vision
- [09:58] - Prayer for Vision and Power

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
2. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Observation Questions:
1. How does Mabel's life reflect the message of Psalm 23, particularly in her ability to find peace and fear no evil despite her circumstances? [08:32]
2. What specific actions did Mabel take to maintain her focus on Jesus and her faith, despite her physical limitations? [05:17]
3. How did Mabel's response to receiving a flower on Mother's Day reveal her character and faith? [03:11]
4. In what ways did Mabel demonstrate the power of God in her weakness, as described in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10? [07:39]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Mabel's story teach us about the nature of true joy and where it can be found, regardless of our circumstances? [06:33]
2. How can Mabel's life challenge our understanding of what it means to have a vision rooted in God's kingdom? [09:24]
3. In what ways does Mabel's life exemplify the concept of "power in weakness" as described in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10? [07:39]
4. How does Mabel's ability to recite scripture and sing hymns reflect her deep connection with God, and what can we learn from this practice? [04:39]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life vision. Is it aligned with the kingdom of God, and how can you ensure it sustains you through life's challenges? [09:24]
2. Mabel found joy in Jesus despite her suffering. What are some practical ways you can cultivate joy in your relationship with Christ, even in difficult times? [06:33]
3. Consider a time when you felt weak or powerless. How can you rely on God's strength in those moments, as Mabel did? [07:39]
4. Mabel's life was a living example of Psalm 23. How can you apply the truths of this Psalm to your daily life, especially when facing trials? [08:32]
5. Mabel's story invites us to reflect on our vision. What steps can you take to ensure your life's vision is not just about material success but is centered on God's kingdom? [09:10]
6. How can you incorporate scripture memorization and hymn singing into your spiritual practices to deepen your connection with God, as Mabel did? [04:39]
7. Identify one area of your life where you need to trust in God's presence and provision more fully. What specific action can you take this week to grow in that trust? [08:32]

Devotional

Day 1: Vision Beyond Circumstances
Mabel's life is a profound example of how a vision rooted in God's kingdom can sustain us through any circumstance. Despite living in a state-run convalescent hospital filled with loneliness and despair, Mabel's unwavering faith and focus on Jesus allowed her to find peace and purpose. Her story challenges us to evaluate our own vision and ensure it is centered on something eternal and meaningful. Mabel's ability to find joy and purpose in the midst of pain was not due to her circumstances but because of her deep relationship with Jesus. Her life invites us to consider what vision we are living for and whether it can sustain us through life's challenges. [09:24]

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel overwhelmed by circumstances? How can you shift your focus to a vision rooted in God's kingdom today?


Day 2: Power in Weakness
Mabel's story illustrates the incredible power that comes from a deep relationship with God. Despite her physical limitations—blindness, deafness, and cancer—she possessed a supernatural strength that enabled her to endure and even thrive in her situation. This reminds us that true power is not found in our abilities but in our connection with God. Mabel's life challenges us to seek strength not in our own capabilities but in the divine power that comes from a relationship with Jesus. [07:39]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: Identify a weakness in your life. How can you invite God's power to work through this weakness today?


Day 3: Joy in Jesus
Mabel's joy was not dependent on her circumstances but on her relationship with Jesus. Her ability to sing hymns and express gratitude in the midst of pain challenges us to find our joy in Christ, who is our strength and comfort in all situations. Mabel's life encourages us to seek joy not in external circumstances but in the presence of Jesus, who offers us true and lasting joy. [06:33]

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

Reflection: What is one way you can express joy in Jesus today, regardless of your current circumstances?


Day 4: Living Psalm 23
Mabel's life was a living embodiment of Psalm 23, where she feared no evil despite walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Her story encourages us to trust in God's presence and provision, knowing that He is with us in every trial. Mabel's unwavering trust in God, even in the face of death, challenges us to live with the assurance that God is our shepherd, guiding and protecting us through every valley. [08:32]

Psalm 23:4-5 (ESV): "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."

Reflection: Reflect on a current challenge you are facing. How can you trust in God's presence and provision in this situation today?


Day 5: Reflecting on Our Vision
Mabel's story invites us to reflect on the vision we have for our lives. It must be more than just material success or personal achievements; it should be a vision that aligns with God's kingdom and gives us the power to endure life's challenges with grace and faith. Mabel's life encourages us to seek a vision that is not about accumulating material wealth or climbing social ladders but about living in the presence and power of God. [09:10]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: What is one aspect of your current vision for life that may not align with God's kingdom? How can you begin to realign your vision with God's today?

Quotes


The state-run convalescent hospital was not a pleasant place tom wrote it is large understaffed overfilled with senile and helpless and lonely people who are waiting to die on the brightest of days it seems dark inside and smells of sickness and stale urine i went there once or twice a week for four years but i never wanted to go there and i always left with a sense of relief it's not the kind of place one gets used to. [00:01:05]

I also learned later that this woman was 89 years old and she had been there bedridden blind nearly deaf and alone for 25 years this was mabel i don't know why i spoke to her she looked less likely to respond than most of the people i saw in that hallway but i put a flower to hand and i said here's a flower for you happy mother's day. [00:02:34]

Mabel and i became friends over the next few weeks and i went to see her once or twice a week for the next three years her first words were usually an offer of hard candy from a tissue box near her bed some days i would read to her from the bible and often when i would pause she would continue reciting the passage from memory word for word. [00:04:20]

On other days i would take a book of hymns and sing with her and she would know all the words of the old songs for mabel these were not merely an exercise in memory she'd often stop and meet him and make a brief comment about lyrics she considered particularly relevant to her situation. [00:04:45]

During one hectic week of final exams i was frustrated because my mind seemed to be pulled in ten directions at once with all the things i had to think about and the question occurred to me what does mabel have to think about day after day week after week not even able to know if it's day or night. [00:05:23]

I think about my jesus i sat there and i thought for a moment about the difficulty for me of thinking about jesus for even five minutes and i said what do you think about jesus she replied slowly and deliberately as i wrote i think about how good he's been to me he's been awfully good to me in my life you know. [00:05:48]

I would rather have jesus he is all the world to me and then she began to sing and old him jesus says all the world to me my life my joy my all he is my strength from day to day without him i would fall when i am sad to him i go no other one can cheer me so when i'm sad he makes me glad he's my friend. [00:06:30]

How could she do it seconds ticked and minutes crawled and so did days and weeks and months and years of pain without human company and without an explanation of why it was all happening and she lay there and sang hymns how could she do it the reason i think is that mabel had power. [00:07:08]

Lying there in that bed unable to move unable to see unable to hear unable to talk to anyone she had something that you and i don't have much of she had an incredible power here was an ordinary human being who received supernatural power to do extraordinary things her entire life consisted of following jesus as best she could in her situation. [00:07:29]

Imagine being in her condition and saying i think about how good he's been to me he's been awfully good to me you know see this is psalm 23 come to life this is the vision yea though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death i will fear no evil. [00:08:14]

What is the vision that you have for your life it must be about something and that something must be about more than just climbing a ladder accumulating stuff must be something so strong that if you have to spend 25 years in pain and solitude with no explanation it will give you the power to endure. [00:09:17]

This is life in the kingdom of god this is the vision of jesus god would you help make his vision a reality in our lives would you make that power come once again to ordinary people like us help us remember mabel and her friend jesus today. [00:09:39]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?