The first time I tried making sourdough, I was full of excitement. I imagined pulling a beautifully golden, crusty loaf out of the oven, the perfect balance of crisp and soft. Instead, I was met with deflated dough, rock-hard crusts, and loaf after loaf that just didn’t turn out right.
I lost count of how many bags of flour I went through, trying to get it right. And if I’m being honest, I almost gave up. But something about the process kept calling me back, the slow, intentional way that sourdough comes to life. It wasn’t just about making bread. It was about learning a deeper truth: you can’t rush what takes time to become what it’s meant to be.
The Beauty of Slow Growth
Sourdough is unlike any other bread. There’s no instant yeast to speed things along, no shortcuts to bypass the waiting. Instead, it relies on a living, active culture, a wild yeast that takes time to grow, develop, and transform the dough.
It reminded me so much of how God works in our lives. We pray for change, for answers, for growth, but so often, God’s timeline doesn’t match ours. He allows time to do its work, shaping us in ways we can’t yet see.
“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end, it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come.” – Habakkuk 2:3
There were moments when I wanted to force my dough to rise faster. I would check on it constantly, thinking that maybe if I just did more, it would speed up the process. But sourdough doesn’t work like that. And neither does God.
The Waiting Season
Once the dough is mixed, it has to rest. And then it has to be stretched and folded, little by little, strengthening its structure. It’s a long process, hours of waiting before it even begins to take shape.
How many times have we felt stuck in a season of waiting? Waiting for a breakthrough, for an answered prayer, for the next step to become clear?
But just like with sourdough, the waiting isn’t wasted. Something is happening beneath the surface. What looks like stillness is actually transformation.
“Be still and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
The dough rises, unseen and slow. And even then, it’s not ready yet. It has to be shaped, prepared, and proofed. And just when it seems like it’s been through enough, it enters the fire.
Refined by the Fire
The oven is what makes the bread what it’s meant to be. Without the heat, the dough would never become a full, nourishing loaf.
And isn’t that just like life? We go through the fire not to be destroyed, but to be refined.
“See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” – Isaiah 48:10
There’s purpose in the fire. It strengthens us, deepens us, and brings out the fullness of who we were meant to be.
The Reward
Finally, after all the waiting, all the stretching, all the heat, the bread is ready to enjoy! When I finally pulled that first perfect loaf from the oven, I felt it deep in my soul. It wasn’t just about the bread. It was about learning to trust the process.
To trust that waiting has purpose. That growth happens in the unseen. That the fire refines but never destroys. That what God is forming in us is worth the time it takes.
If you’re in a season of waiting, keep going. God is doing something in you, even if you can’t see it yet. And when it’s time, it will be beautiful.
Now let’s go through the process of making this delicious bread
Homemade Honey Sourdough Recipe
Ingredients:
3 ½ cups bread flour
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ cup active sourdough starter
1 ¼ cups warm water
1 tablespoon honey
Instructions:
1. Mix & Rest: In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, sourdough starter, water, and honey. Stir until combined. Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes.
2. Stretch & Fold: Every 30 minutes for the next 3 hours, stretch and fold the dough to strengthen it.
3. Bulk Fermentation: Cover and let the dough rise at room temperature for 6-8 hours, or until doubled in size.
4. Shape & Proof: Shape the dough into a round and place it in a floured bowl or banneton. Cover and refrigerate overnight for the final rise.
5. Bake: Preheat oven to 475°F. Place dough in a Dutch oven, score the top, and bake covered for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 20 minutes.
6. Enjoy! Let the bread cool before slicing. Serve with butter and honey and savor the beauty of something that took its time to become what it was meant to be.
If this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a reminder that good things take time. 💛
Comments