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当神准备做伟大的事情时，祂往往会从一些小的事情开始，亚伯拉罕和撒莱的故事也是如此。神介入到这一对年纪老迈、膝下无子的夫妇的生命中，叫他们得到难以置信，数不胜数的众多后裔。对神来说，在人看来不可能的事，也是大有可能的。

神应许亚伯拉罕将会成为大国之父，迄今已有24年之久了。（参创 12:1-4）在此期间，神也数次向他重申祂的应许，甚至设立了一个仪式来确保这个誓约，可是亚伯拉罕和撒莱仍然没有生养儿女。在《创世记》十七章中，神向他们启示自己特别的名字El Shaddai，意思是“全能的神”，来再次重申这个应许。随后祂把亚伯兰的名字改为亚伯拉罕，意思是“多国的父”，并且祂对他说明了自己计划的细节。神又把撒莱的名字改为撒拉，意思是“公主”。（参创 17:15）尽管这应许尚未成就，神已经再一次向他们做出保证了。

与此相仿，当我感到难以相信祂的应许时，透过经文、诗歌、鼓励的短信和祷告，神也会再次向我保证。这些都能帮助我再次确信， 纵使环境尚未改变，神仍然在做工。无论你在何事上信靠神，在等待的过程中，你也照样可以从祂所赐的激励中支取力量。

Often when God wants to do something big, he starts with something small. Such was the case with Abraham and Sarai. God took an elderly, childless couple and made them fruitful beyond belief. What seems impossible to human beings is very possible with God.

It had been 24 years since God first promised Abraham that he would become the father of a great nation (see Genesis 12:1-4). Several times through those years God reaffirmed his promise and even ceremonially sealed it. Still, Abraham and Sarai were without children. In Genesis 17 God affirmed this promise again by revealing his special name El Shaddai, meaning "God Almighty." Then he changed Abram's name to Abraham, meaning "father of many," and spelled out further details of his plan. God also changed Sarai's name to Sarah, meaning "princess" (see v. 15). Even though the promise had yet to be fulfilled, God offered reassurance to them.

Similarly, at times when it was difficult for me to believe his promises, God sent reassurances my way. Bible verses, songs, encouraging notes, and prayers helped to reassure me that God was still at work—even if circumstances hadn't yet changed. Whatever you are trusting God for, draw strength from the encouragements he gives along the way.