Hawkins challenges students to focus on Christ in the midst of storms

One does not have to look far to find people concerned about current events, both in the United States and globally, but during the Aug. 29 chapel service, O.S. Hawkins, chancellor of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College, encouraged students to keep their focus despite the troubling circumstances in the world around them.

“You come here to study for ministry and to prepare for ministry in very uncertain times,” Hawkins said, describing those uncertainties as having an impact economically, politically, socially, and internationally.

Hawkins said that uncertainty is not new for the people of God as he used the book of Habakkuk to draw parallels from the Old Testament prophet’s ministry to the southern kingdom of Judah facing Babylonian exile to students today preparing for ministry. Despite uncertainty and storms of life, Hawkins said those following Christ must keep their focus to be used by God for His Kingdom.

“Focus is so vitally important,” Hawkins said, referencing New Testament passages from Paul encouraging believers to “set your mind on things above,” and “press toward the mark.”

In his 50 years of ministry, Hawkins said he has witnessed people’s ministries get off track because they lose that focus and instead focus on the circumstances and problems around them, allowing it to distract them from following Christ faithfully.

“‘If the Lord is with me, why is all this happening to me?’ That’s what Habakkuk is saying,” Hawkins said, pointing out believers today often ask the same questions. “‘Where are you God? Why don’t you do something?’ And you know what our general tendency is when we focus all of our attention on the problem? If we’re not careful, it’s to blame God for it all.”

Instead, Hawkins challenged students to keep their focus through and beyond those problems and trials, trusting God will use them to correct or perfect His children.

“Just because you’re in a difficult time, a storm, does not mean you’re not in the midst of God’s will,” Hawkins said, although it may mean that for some. Nevertheless, he said believers can persevere through those trials and still praise and find joy in the Lord. “… If along the way, He comes along and shakes you up, just remember that’s His way of getting you to make sure the priorities of your life and the focus of your life and the crosshairs of your life, have the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of them.”

Hawkins graduated with his Master of Divinity from Southwestern 50 years ago, later completing his Doctor of Philosophy as well. He served as pastor at various churches, including First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale and First Baptist Church of Dallas, before becoming the president and CEO of Guidestone Financial Resources. Hawkins retired from Guidestone in 2022 after leading the Southern Baptist entity for 25 years. He currently serves as the chancellor, senior professor of pastoral ministry and evangelism, and the L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism (“Chair of Fire”) at Southwestern.

Hawkins’ entire message can be viewed here.

Chapel is held every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 11 a.m. (CT) in MacGorman Chapel on the campus of Southwestern Seminary and TBC. Chapel may be viewed live at swbts.live.