During a recent University of Mobile chapel, students were reminded to fix their eyes on Jesus during every season and storm of life as they heard from Ben Lacey, executive director of Baptist21 and lead pastor at Trinity River Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
Originally from Alabama, Lacey attended the University of Mobile during his freshman year of college.
“My time at this school was one of the sweetest years of my life,” Lacey recalled during the Sept. 23 chapel service. “I had moved around a lot in my life, and I wanted a place that would provide stability and friendships and would honestly cause me to grow spiritually as I furthered my education.
“When I arrived in the fall of 2007, the University of Mobile did not disappoint,” he noted. “I built fast and quick friendships. I threw my life into all that was offered here. Most importantly, this was one of the most pivotal years of my life spiritually because it was the first time I had ever read through the whole Bible in one year when I was on this campus.”
Purpose and plan
Even though Lacey only spent one year at the University of Mobile, he now realizes that God had a purpose and plan for his time there that greatly impacted the trajectory of his life and helped keep him grounded during an unexpected season and storm that was approaching.
“It was one of the most memorable and informative years of my life,” Lacey said. “I wanted to continue to stay here, but as I’ve learned in life, sometimes things happen that are out of our control. I will never forget a call that I got from my father as I was walking on campus, and my father said, ‘There’s a lot going on at home, and we need you to come back home.’
“At first, I thought I would go home for the summer and come back in the fall, and I thought I would be okay with it. Then, the reality hit, and I knew that people had it way harder than me, but I was devastated at the time. University of Mobile was the place where I wanted to be, and I had deep friendships and a bright future. I was thrilled at the possibility of the future, and yet, the Lord shut that door completely.”
With a message based out of Mark 6:45–52, where Jesus walked on water to reach His disciples in the midst of a storm, Lacey took the opportunity to emphasize a powerful truth to students — that Jesus will often lead them into the storm so that they might see Him in the storm.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever found yourself in a place where you feel like you’re following God and feel like you’re laboring for Him and He takes away the things you love,” Lacey said. “I was flourishing spiritually, doing well in school, had great friendships and was plugged into a great church.
Tough lessons
He added, “I was in the Word daily, and the Lord sent me away from the people I love and the place that I love. Friends, why does God often take us places that we don’t want to be — far from the places and people we love? Why does He often give us what we don’t want and take from us what we love? I’m curious if you feel like that today. If you’re not wrestling with that question as an 18- to 22-year-old, you will be soon. You’ll find yourself in a situation where God will take something from you that you deeply love, and you’ll have to ask yourself the question, ‘Why is it often the case that Jesus takes from us?’ The answer is so that He can give us something better.”
As he continued his message, Lacey asked students to consider what could be better than the best college experience, their dream job and future spouse.
“What could be better than all those things?” Lacey reflected. “The One who created all those things. Jesus is better than the gifts that He gives, and I think that gets to the heart of the passage.”
While reflecting on this passage and theme, Lacey reminded students that reading the Gospel of Mark will help them discover who Jesus really is.
“It’s ultimately telling us that Jesus is the Son of God, that He has come to suffer the wrath of God and that He has come to save the people of God,” Lacey said. “The main thing I want you to take away from today is the best life you can have is not getting what you want but seeing Jesus for who He really is.”
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