Encouragement from ahead

A few weeks ago we flew into Denver for a family wedding and to spend a week exploring Colorado for the first time.  The very day we arrived, we took a hike with our daughter and her girl friend up to a real glacier nestled in the mountains west of the city.  Our bodies were used to sea level living and we huffed and puffed and scrambled over loose rocks as we hiked in the 10,000 foot elevation to find our way to the glacier.  The view of the ice and of the surrounding mountains and lake below were stunning and a great introduction to the area.  I remembered constantly wondering on the way up: "When will we get there?" and "Will we make it?"  On the way back down we felt like experienced climbers when some newcomers, who were struggling as we had, asked how much farther they had to go before reaching the glacier.  It was still an unknown distance to them, but we were able to encourage them because we had just walked the same distance and could identify with the challenge.  I was reminded that one of our great gifts, as believers, is to encourage others who are struggling with issues and challenges that we have also faced.  It is the common challenges of life that can bond us in this way.   2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.   blessings, Rob Smith