The Soup That Refused to Be Rushed (And What I Learned)

My husband recently came home from a work conference with an attendee gift that included a variety of soup mixes. With the fall-like weather rolling in, I decided it was the perfect time to make one—White Bean Chili.

Now, based on the title alone, I had a feeling I might be the only person in my house to eat this soup. Step one: wash and soak the beans. I opted for the quick version, of course. Boil, soak, done. Except... I misread the directions and had to go to ChatGPT to figure out how to salvage the recipe.

Step two: throw everything in the crockpot. Easy enough. Soon the house was filled with the aroma of simmering soup, and I was pretty sure I’d still be the only one to try it—and maybe not even like it myself. Thankfully, I had a backup soup in another crockpot that everyone else would eat.

As I stirred the soup, I had to laugh at myself. I kept trying to take the shortcut, thinking I could hurry things along, but it only made life a little messier. God was likely shaking His head and smiling, telling me to slow down. Like Abraham and Sarah, some things can’t be rushed.

Think about Abraham and Sarah. In Genesis 15–21, God promised them a son—a promise that seemed impossible. They waited year after year with no sign of change. Eventually, Sarah grew tired of waiting and suggested her own plan: Abraham could have a child with her servant, Hagar. It was the “quick version,” their attempt to help God along. But it just made everything messier. Still, God kept His perfect timing. Long after the waiting seemed unbearable, Sarah had Isaac—the child God had promised all along.

God’s promises aren’t on my timeline. His delays are never wasted; they’re where He deepens our relationship with Him, grows our patience, and builds our character.

So maybe my white bean chili will be a flop, or maybe it’ll surprise me. Either way, it’s a good reminder that the best things in life can’t be rushed.

“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”— Romans 5:3–5

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