Time to Prepare

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“A Grasshopper frolicked while an Ant stored food for the winter. When winter came the Ant was comfortable; the Grasshopper not so,” – Aesop’s fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper.

I’ll never forget being in my elementary school’s third-grade play. Before I was homeschooled, this was the last “production” I got to be a part of. This play in particular was one based on a collection of Aesop’s Fables. For my role, I landed the role of “hard-working ant” in the story of “The Ant and the Grasshopper.”

For those unfamiliar with this particular tale, it tells the story of an ant who is working tirelessly to store food for the winter, all while his friend, the grasshopper, is enjoying the summer without care or planning for what’s to come. Instead of preparing for the cold days ahead, he spent the summer making music and enjoying the summer sun.

But all too soon, when winter arrives, the Grasshopper makes a plea to the ant for food when he realizes that he has none. The story explains:

“I didn’t have time to store up any food,” whined the Grasshopper; “I was so busy making music that before I knew it the summer was gone.”

The ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust.

“Making music, were you?” they cried. “Very well; now dance!” And they turned their backs on the Grasshopper and went on with their work.

This little tale always reminded me of the verse in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that says: For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

The intended moral of the story is that while there is time to play and enjoy life, there is also a time to prepare for what is to come – regardless of what that may be.

Over the past few years, we’ve all faced situations that required planning.

In 2020, we all watched the world panic as toilet paper and everyday necessities grew scarce on store shelves. In January, my community was hit with a devastating ice storm that took out power for weeks for some. Meanwhile, this past summer, we saw how various forms of produce can harm us, and even today, many people worry about what will (or won’t) be on grocery store shelves when we make our weekly shopping trips.

None of us know what could happen next.

But what we do know is that we can learn to plan and prepare as best we can, not out of fear, but out of diligence. Sometimes that looks like preparing a few shelf-stable meals, buying extra candles to keep on hand for power outages, or slowly stocking our homes with necessities when we can.

However, when it comes to strengthening our faith and honoring the Lord throughout our lives, we can prepare differently.

Throughout Scripture, we are given many warnings and words about what our world will look like when we choose to follow Christ. And unfortunately, these are not always filled with rainbows and butterflies. Instead, Scripture reassures us that following Christ will include suffering. James 1:2-4 teaches us that when it comes to these days of hardship, we should count them all joy:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

But joy, in the middle of the trial, isn’t always our first choice. Sometimes, even when we lean on Him for strength, it is still hard to believe that His perfect peace will sustain us through our current struggles. Least of all, let us be joyful for them!

That’s why, even on our best days when everything feels right, we should still get ready for harder times ahead.

The best way to do this is by spending time in Scripture, praying, and surrounding ourselves with like-minded people who encourage us in our walk with Christ.

On those good days when we feel carefree, it’s the perfect time to grow closer to our Savior. Worship songs seem sweeter, and reading God’s Word feels especially comforting. In those moments, it’s easy to sense His presence.

If we use these good times to build our faith and strengthen our relationship with our Lord and Savior, we’ll be better prepared to find Him when life gets tough.

Like the hardworking ants, we can get ready for the future by staying diligent and listening to what God wants to teach us each day. Then, when hard times come, we’ll be ready and focused on the One who can make everything new.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

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