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尽管亚伯拉罕有很大的信心，他也会因挥之不去的恐惧和疑惑感到焦躁不安。

所以，在《创世记》十五章的开首，神对他说：“你不要惧怕！我是你的盾牌，必大大地赏赐你。”亚伯拉罕感到这话难以置信，因为早在大概十年之前，神已经应许他要成为一个大国之父，但他和撒莱迄今膝下却仍是无儿无女。

我们都能体会应许落空带来的失望；它们会在我们的心里和家庭生活中留下一个痛苦的空白。或许我们听从了神的呼召和凭信心踏出一步，然而我们为祂国度冒险，却看不到我们所期望得到的果效。在这种情况之下，继续信靠神很不容易。正像诗人发出的呼喊：“耶和华啊，祢要到几时才救我呢？”（参诗 6:3）

有一个好消息，就是神明白我们的疑惑和恐惧。我们向祂祈求：“主啊，我信，但我信不足，求主帮助。求主帮助我更加信靠祢——纵使我看不见或不明白祢的旨意、纵使我似乎已经等了多时”，（参可 9:24）因这信心的祈祷，祂便慈爱地回应我们的祈求。

神向我们解释，祂的道路高过我们所能想像得到的。（参赛 55:9）而祂所安排的时间也是无可挑剔的——总不会过早、也不会太迟。相信这些事实能帮助我们经历到从神而来的安息。

Despite having great faith, Abraham could be unsettled by nagging fears and doubts.

That is why, in the opening of Genesis 15, God says to him, "Do not be afraid. . . . I am your shield, your very great reward." Abraham was struggling to believe. God's promise to make him the father of a great nation was now about ten years old, and he and Sarai did not have a child.

We all know the pain of promises unfulfilled; they can leave an aching void in our hearts and homes. Perhaps we follow God's call and step out in faith. We risk something for his kingdom, but we don't see the hoped-for results. At times like that, it can be hard to keep trusting in God. Like the psalmist we cry out, "How long, LORD, how long?" (Psalm 6:3).

The good news is that God understands our doubts and fears. He graciously responds to the prayer that says, "Lord, I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief. Help me trust you more—even when I don't see or understand your ways, even when it seems to be taking so long" (see Mark 9:24).

God explains that his ways are higher than we can imagine (Isaiah 55:9). And his timing is impeccable—never early, never late. Trusting in these truths allows us to experience God's peace and rest.