From “Finding Joy In Your Journey”: Tough Times Don’t Last and a Good Fruit Compote

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

Growing up, our dad used to tell us this all the time.  Tough times don’t last, tough people do.  They figure it out.  The pull strength from “somewhere” and push through the hard times knowing that they will get to the other side stronger and wiser.

There’s a sign over the guest room at my parents house that reads:  “The Glory Suite.  Please note, not responsible for final destination”.  Our family has an odd sense of humor.  Both of our grandmothers lived their final years in that guestroom.  Mom, especially, cared for both women with love and compassion and many, many tears.  And both women went to be with Jesus after a life well lived in that same room.  Thus, it was dubbed the glory suite and became a household joke, even though the path to get there had been of great challenge. 

Mom had given up a significant amount of time and energy to care for these women, both with dementia and unable to be left on their own.  And yet, knowing the ask, she willingly sacrificed to provide a home for these women that had been so good to her.  Knowing it wouldn’t last forever; knowing she wanted to meet that time when it came with no regrets over decisions she had made on their behalf.  And knowing, that somehow, with all the challenges and pain that would come through the process, that she would be able to make it through to the other side because of the promises found in her Bible.

Namely, the constant reminder that He who made all of those promises, is always faithful.  He allows times of significant growth and pain for us to truly understand who He is; He allows them so that we stop depending on ourselves and what WE can do and learn that only through His love and grace and mercy and protection are we able to find joy in our journey.

Even when we have made mistakes and then find our way back to Him, wondering how He can possibly love us or find a purpose for us, He still has one.  Fact is, that purpose never waivered, the only thing that changed was our obedience.  Even when we don’t understand, He does.

It doesn’t matter how old you are or how many mis-steps you have taken, when you yield your heart to His leading, He will always guide the path.  The hard part for most of us is that to find joy and courage for that path requires complete submission to His will – that’s a doozy for most of us Type A personalities.  And when we finally make the decision to submit, it doesn’t matter whether we are “past our prime” or not, He will bring us to the path He has for us to follow.

I always think of this when I’m playing around and making fruit compotes.  If you have never made them, they are versatile and amazing.  On cakes, in yogurt (or chia seed pudding, a personal favorite), over proteins.  And yet these tasty sauces are one of the best ways to use fruit that is past its prime.  Just like with us, fruit that some might consider too far gone still serves a purpose.

Triple Berry Basil Fruit Compote:

Ingredients:

2 pints strawberries, washed and sliced

1 cup raspberries, washed

1 cup blueberries, washed

6 Tablespoons granulated sugar

3 teaspoons honey

3 teaspoons Balsamic vinegar

2 Tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, place berries with sugar and let sit for 30 minutes.

2. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

3. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

4. Bake at 175 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes.

5. Remove and let cool. Mash some of the pieces down with a potato masher to thicken the compote.

Finding Joy in Your Journey is our first in a series of Bible studies that will be released in May 2024.