Devotions
Bean or Cabbage?
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:12
Two Lessons from the
Kitchen
A colleague once
told me about his first cooking experience at the age of seven. Left at home
with his older cousin, he decided to cook dried beans. They filled a pot with
beans, added water, and placed it on the fire. As soon as the water began to
boil, the beans swelled and spilled over. Confused, they wondered how the pot
could overflow when they had measured what seemed like the right amount. In the
end, they had to remove nearly half of the beans so the rest could cook
properly.
I do not remember my
own first-time cooking, but I clearly remember my first attempt at cooking
cabbage. I filled a casserole dish with chopped cabbage, put it on the fire,
and stepped away for a few minutes. When I returned, the cabbage had shrunk
dramatically. I called the house help and asked, “Where are the vegetables? How did they disappear?” She simply replied,
“Don’t worry; that is
what cabbage does when it is cooked.”
The contrast is
striking: beans absorb water and expand, while cabbage loses water and shrinks.
That simple difference offers a powerful picture of how people respond to life’s trials.
How We Respond to
Trials
In many ways, people
respond to hardship like either beans or cabbage. Some grow stronger under
pressure. Others become discouraged, lose heart, and slowly shrink back. For
those who prefer the easy path, this may be difficult to hear: there is no easy
way through life. Trials and tests are part of the human journey, and they are
also part of the Christian journey.
No matter who you
are or what you do, life will test you. Scripture often compares those trials
to fire. In 1 Peter 4:12, we are told, “Dear friends, do not
be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though
something strange were happening to you.” Trials are not
strange interruptions; they are part of life on earth.
What matters is not
whether the fire comes, but how we respond when it does. Falling is not the
strange thing; refusing to rise is. Feeling weary is not unusual; giving up
altogether is the real danger. James reminds us that it is those who endure who
receive the crown of life. Perseverance is not only essential for the life to
come, but it also shapes what we are able to become here and now.
Choose to Grow
So do not be like
cabbage when life’s fire intensifies.
Do not shrink back and lose heart. Instead, be like beans: absorb the
experience, grow through it, and become stronger.
Tests and
tribulations are not meant to destroy us. Often, they prepare us for what lies
ahead. God used the wilderness to prepare the Israelites for the land they were
called to possess. In that place of testing, they had to learn obedience,
resilience, and patience. Those who refused the lesson perished in the desert.
Life experiences
have proved that growth rarely happens in comfort. We become sharp, alert, and
resourceful when challenges force us to rise. When adversity comes, it should
awaken us to seek wisdom, work toward solutions, and trust God more deeply.
When you face
hardship, remember:
· - Trials are a normal
part of life.
· - Pressure can
strengthen you if you respond with faith and perseverance.
· - Challenges often
carry the opportunity for growth and purpose.
Opportunities to
grow and discover meaning often arrive wrapped in the rough packaging of
difficulty. The question is simple: when the fire comes, will you be a bean or
a cabbage?
Posted : Jun 29, 2026