Winter and Sadness + Recipe for Secret Ingredient Chili

Love each other with a warm love that comes from the heart.
1 Peter 1:22 GW

For months it’s been dark and getting darker when I leave the house in the morning to walk my youngest to the bus stop. The journey is short – just down to the end of the cul-de-sac – and yet, one step out under the pre-dawn sky reminds me of the vast mercy that stretches over each new day. Each time we step out onto the driveway, I look for the gentle reflective light of the moon. Each day, the moon is there, even when she’s shy and hides behind the clouds. My daughter and I see who will find her first, then we point out what stars and planets we can find.

I dread getting up early and sigh over having to bundle up and head out into the elements. But there’s something about the cold air, and stepping out into the last threads of darkness and night that also beckons me. The air is a “wake up!” announcement for my lungs and body. I breathe it in and feel my need for it.

Venus shines like a beacon in the early morning sky these days – she stood watch during the transition between fall and winter. Before dawn, she’s there, like a divine reminder that there’s beauty to uncover in the seasons I resist.

I’m not a scientist, nor am I knowledgeable in astronomy. However, I believe that God speaks to us through everything He’s lovingly created. On days when I pay attention, I find love notes in the quiet sky I would never have chosen to witness in the first place.

This year, I’ve felt winter quietly permeating my being and inner world. I’ve been carrying a deep ache for people I love with struggles that cannot be fixed in the way I would choose if I could. I feel such an ongoing ache for the world as I read and take in news headlines. In the same small space on my phone where I read the news, I get a text message about a BOGO-free deal that communicates more urgency than the news headlines about war and devastation. The reality of living in a “May the odds be ever in your favor” culture alongside such horror and destruction feels like a madness too heavy to bear.

I’m reminded that though joy and pain can co-exist, and it almost feels trendy to say so, Jesus came into a world with layers of pain He did not fix overnight. He lived through it all in the same way we do now. Year after year He grew and navigated these tensions and oppression, pain and sadness.

Jesus made room for the winter seasons of the soul.

In His sermon on the mount, in Matthew 5:1-12, He said that those of us who struggle, those who are sad – the ones who are living through dark winters and do not run from them – are blessed.

It’s not the triumphant, popular, goal-crushing, or outwardly happy ones who are closest to Him – it’s the ones who are almost done for inside, the ones who are grieving things lost, the ones who are without and in need, the ones who are lonely and hungry for love, the ones who care so much their hearts feel like they will break under the weight of it all, the ones who stay tethered to love like a child, the ones who are underestimated and ridiculed for their faith.

I read that Venus’ surface is hot enough to melt lead. She’s covered with volcanoes and raw heat – she spins in the opposite direction of our planet. I imagine her angry over having no shifts, no seasons, no anticipation for anything different than what is, no relief – only the kind of fire that burns and devours life. I think of how often I’ve wished winter seasons away. Yet, how much have I missed by doing so?

May we winter and be sad. May we winter as needed, knowing we do not do so without the nearness of Jesus.

by Tasha Jun from the (in)courage archives, originally published in 2024.

Winter can feel like it is neverending. One silver lining of an ongoing winter? It is chili season, and National Chili Day is even coming up soon (stash this recipe away for February 26th!). On a blustery winter’s night, nothing brings more comfort to the soul than a bowl of chili. Invite friends over for a chili feed and toppings potluck—have them each bring a favorite topping: sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped green onion, or invite them to bring a side dish or dessert. It’s a perfect way to warm hearts during a cold season!

Thanks to our friend Nancy C. for this delicious and surprising recipe!

Secret Ingredient Chili

The secret ingredient is unsweetened cocoa powder— it gives the chili a rich flavor!

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Makes 6 servings.

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 (15-oz) cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (28-oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (15-oz) can tomato sauce
3 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cloves minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a large saucepan, cook the ground beef and chopped onion over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink; drain the fat.
Add the beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, unsweetened cocoa powder, minced garlic, and salt and pepper, if desired.
Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Top the chili with any or all of the following: sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped green onion.

NOTE: For a spicier chili, use a 28-oz can of diced tomatoes with green chilies instead of regular diced tomatoes.