Vision of Endurance: Mabel's Journey of Faith

 

Summary

Having a vision that is worth dedicating your life to is essential for sustaining you through any circumstance. This vision should compel you to arrange your life around the methods through which you receive power to become who God has called you to be. This is a vision of life in God's kingdom. I shared the story of Mabel, an extraordinary woman who lived in a state-run convalescent hospital. Despite her dire circumstances—blind, nearly deaf, and bedridden for 25 years—Mabel possessed a profound vision that sustained her. Her life was a testament to the power of a vision rooted in Jesus.

Mabel's story is a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from a deep relationship with Jesus. Despite her physical limitations and the loneliness of her environment, she found joy and purpose in her faith. Her ability to recite scripture and sing hymns from memory was not just an exercise in recall but a reflection of her deep connection with God. Mabel's life challenges us to consider what we think about when we are alone and what vision we hold for our lives.

Mabel's vision was not about accumulating wealth or climbing social ladders but about following Jesus as best as she could in her situation. Her patient endurance of suffering, solitude, prayer, and meditation on scripture exemplified a life lived in the kingdom of God. Her story is a living embodiment of Psalm 23, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Mabel's life invites us to reflect on our own vision and to ensure it is strong enough to sustain us through life's challenges.

Key Takeaways:

- Mabel's story illustrates the power of a vision rooted in Jesus, showing that even in the most challenging circumstances, a deep relationship with God can provide strength and purpose. Her life challenges us to consider what we think about when we are alone and what vision we hold for our lives. [06:27]

- Despite her physical limitations and the loneliness of her environment, Mabel found joy and purpose in her faith. Her ability to recite scripture and sing hymns from memory was a reflection of her deep connection with God, reminding us of the importance of internalizing God's word. [05:23]

- Mabel's vision was not about accumulating wealth or climbing social ladders but about following Jesus as best as she could in her situation. Her patient endurance of suffering, solitude, prayer, and meditation on scripture exemplified a life lived in the kingdom of God. [08:41]

- Mabel's life is a living embodiment of Psalm 23, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Her story invites us to reflect on our own vision and to ensure it is strong enough to sustain us through life's challenges. [09:09]

- The story of Mabel encourages us to have a vision that is about more than just climbing a ladder or accumulating stuff. It 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. [10:16]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:19] - Vision Worth Living For
[01:42] - Introduction to Mabel
[02:16] - Mabel's Condition
[03:32] - First Encounter with Mabel
[04:21] - Mabel's Background
[05:12] - Building a Friendship
[06:15] - Mabel's Thoughts
[07:19] - Mabel's Song
[08:17] - Mabel's Power
[09:09] - Psalm 23 in Action
[10:03] - Reflecting on Our Vision
[10:35] - Prayer for Vision

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 23:4 (KJV): "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Observation Questions:
1. What were the physical and environmental challenges that Mabel faced during her time in the convalescent hospital? [02:16]
2. How did Mabel respond when she was given a flower, and what does this reveal about her character? [03:43]
3. What activities did Mabel engage in that demonstrated her deep connection with God? [05:12]
4. How did Mabel describe her thoughts about Jesus when asked what she thinks about during her days? [06:27]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Mabel's life exemplify the message of Psalm 23, particularly the verse about walking through the valley of the shadow of death? [09:09]
2. In what ways did Mabel's ability to recite scripture and sing hymns reflect her spiritual strength and resilience? [05:23]
3. What does Mabel's story suggest about the nature of true joy and purpose in life, especially in the face of suffering and solitude? [08:41]
4. How might Mabel's vision of life in God's kingdom challenge contemporary views of success and fulfillment? [10:03]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own vision for life. Is it strong enough to sustain you through difficult times, similar to Mabel's vision? How can you strengthen it? [10:03]
2. Mabel found joy and purpose in her faith despite her circumstances. What are some ways you can find joy in your faith during challenging times? [05:49]
3. Mabel's life was a testament to the power of internalizing God's word. How can you incorporate more scripture memorization into your daily routine? [05:23]
4. Consider the things you think about when you are alone. How can you shift your focus to reflect more on Jesus, as Mabel did? [06:27]
5. Mabel's story challenges us to consider what we hold as our vision. What steps can you take to ensure your vision aligns with following Jesus rather than worldly pursuits? [10:16]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God that provides strength and purpose, similar to Mabel's connection with Jesus? [08:17]
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to rely more on God's strength. What practical steps can you take this week to seek His guidance and support? [10:35]

Devotional

Day 1: Vision Rooted in Jesus
Mabel's story illustrates the power of a vision rooted in Jesus, showing that even in the most challenging circumstances, a deep relationship with God can provide strength and purpose. Her life challenges us to consider what we think about when we are alone and what vision we hold for our lives. Mabel's unwavering faith and her ability to find joy and purpose despite her physical limitations serve as a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from a deep relationship with Jesus. Her life invites us to reflect on the vision we hold for our own lives and whether it is strong enough to sustain us through life's challenges. [06:27]

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being." (Ephesians 3:14-16, ESV)

Reflection: What vision do you hold for your life, and how does it align with a deep relationship with Jesus?


Day 2: Joy and Purpose in Faith
Despite her physical limitations and the loneliness of her environment, Mabel found joy and purpose in her faith. Her ability to recite scripture and sing hymns from memory was a reflection of her deep connection with God, reminding us of the importance of internalizing God's word. Mabel's life challenges us to consider the sources of joy and purpose in our own lives and whether they are rooted in our faith. Her story encourages us to internalize God's word and to find strength and purpose in our relationship with Him. [05:23]

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you internalize God's word in your daily life to find joy and purpose in your faith?


Day 3: Following Jesus in Every Situation
Mabel's vision was not about accumulating wealth or climbing social ladders but about following Jesus as best as she could in her situation. Her patient endurance of suffering, solitude, prayer, and meditation on scripture exemplified a life lived in the kingdom of God. Mabel's story challenges us to consider what it means to follow Jesus in our own lives, regardless of our circumstances. Her life invites us to reflect on our priorities and to ensure that our vision is aligned with following Jesus. [08:41]

"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27, ESV)

Reflection: What does it mean for you to follow Jesus in your current situation, and how can you align your priorities with this vision?


Day 4: Embodying Psalm 23
Mabel's life is a living embodiment of Psalm 23, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Her story invites us to reflect on our own vision and to ensure it is strong enough to sustain us through life's challenges. Mabel's unwavering faith and her ability to find strength and purpose in her relationship with God serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of having a vision rooted in Jesus. Her life challenges us to consider whether our vision is strong enough to sustain us through the valleys of life. [09:09]

"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." (Psalm 23:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embody the strength and faith of Psalm 23 in your own life, especially during challenging times?


Day 5: A Vision Beyond Material Success
The story of Mabel encourages us to have a vision that is about more than just climbing a ladder or accumulating stuff. It 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. Mabel's life challenges us to consider the true nature of success and to ensure that our vision is aligned with a deeper purpose. Her story invites us to reflect on our own vision and to consider whether it is strong enough to sustain us through life's challenges. [10:16]

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What is your vision for success, and how can you ensure it is aligned with a deeper purpose beyond material wealth?

Quotes

"Having a vision that is worth giving your life to and will sustain you through any circumstance, because there must be a vision that can compel a firm decision to arrange our lives around the methods through which we receive power to become who God called us to be. That is a vision of life in God's kingdom." [00:01:13]

"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." [00:01:51]

"Her face was an absolute horror. The empty stare and white pupils of her eyes told me that she was blind. The large hearing aid over one ear told me she was almost deaf. One side of her face was being eaten by cancer. There was a discolored and running sore covering part of one cheek, and it had pushed her nose to one side, dropped one eye, and distorted her jaw." [00:02:36]

"She had grown up on a small farm that she managed with only her mother until her mother died. Then she ran the farm alone until 1950 when her blindness and sickness sent her to the convalescent hospital. For 25 years she got weaker and sicker with constant headaches, backaches, stomachaches, and then the cancer came." [00:04:26]

"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. 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." [00:05:19]

"I would go to her with a pen and paper to write down the things she would say. 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. The question occurred to me, what does Mabel have to think about day after day?" [00:06:02]

"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." [00:06:32]

"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." [00:09:06]

"Her entire life consisted of following Jesus as best she could in her situation, patient endurance of suffering, solitude, prayer, meditation on scripture, possibly giving when she had a flower, a piece of candy to offer. Imagine being in her condition and saying, I think about how good he's been to me." [00:08:39]

"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. This is life in the kingdom of God." [00:10:03]

"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. Amen." [00:10:35]

"Later I wheeled her back to her room and learned more about her history. She had grown up on a small farm that she managed with only her mother until her mother died. Then she ran the farm alone until 1950 when her blindness and sickness sent her to the convalescent hospital." [00:04:26]

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