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Last weekend was a real Montana winter event, wasn’t it? It is amazing to be bundled up and outside when the temperatures are 30 below and the wind is blowing. But, when I do go out in that cold, I am equipped for it. To go out unprepared is to invite disaster. Driving in those conditions will reveal what systems in your car need attention. Extremely cold (and hot days) will let you know if all systems in your car are functioning properly. Good maintenance will ensure you arrive at your destination. If you break down then it’s a call to a friend, or towing company to get into a shop.

The journey we call life and death requires a person to have things in order, if it is to be satisfying and successful. The Bible has some emergency numbers that are a good resource when you encounter difficulties on your journey. Some of these difficulties come from the natural result of living in a fallen, sin-marred world. Others are self-inflicted due to poor choices in life. Too much alcohol, drugs, consumption of pornography, ignorance of the Bible, marital affairs, etc. will cause many breakdowns in relationships and families. Just like having only water in your cooling system when the temperature hits 40 degrees below zero!

Here are a few emergency numbers that the Bible has for us when the road of life gets bumpy:

Are you stressed out, dial up Matthew 11: 28-30. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

How about worried? I know that worrying about things saps you of energy, joy, and creates fear. No one likes feeling that way. When we fail to trust God with the day and its challenges, worry can roll in like an arctic blizzard and cold spell. So, if you are worried right now, dial up Matthew 6: 25-34. “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Maybe you are lonely. Reading Psalm 23 will encourage your heart as you are reminded there is a Heavenly Shepherd who desires to guide you all the days of your life and bring you safely to an eternal pasture with all you need. You don’t have to fear anything if God is your guiding Light.

If life has you disappointed right now, Psalm 27 will encourage you. Well, I have more to share but that will have to come in the next Mountaintop Musing! Until then thanks for reading and stay warm! Read Romans 10: 9-13, and then call for help!

Dave Carroll is an area missionary with InFaith, America’s oldest Christian home mission agency. He is also pastor of the Wolf Creek Baptist Church. You can contact Dave at 406.459.8935 or davecarroll@infaith.org