A delay isn’t a denial.
Have you ever heard that phrase? If you’ve been part of the Waiting for Baby Bird community for any length of time, I’m sure you have. And I still believe it with all my heart. I can prove it with any of the seven barren women mentioned in scripture. Every single one of them experienced a delay—one that, at times, probably felt like a heartbreaking no.
Most people think of Sarah, who waited 25 years after God’s promise before Isaac was born. And that’s true. But what about the 50+ years she struggled with infertility after marrying Abraham?
Rebecca waited 20 years. Rachel endured 14 years before she ever had the chance to take maternity pictures. Hannah spent over a decade hearing no. The Shunammite woman? She waited years. So did Manoah’s wife. And Elizabeth? She was well past menopause when she finally felt the flutters of life growing inside her.
All seven barren women in scripture endured years—some, decades. Month after month, they likely wondered if their delay meant denial. But when we look at their stories, we don’t see no. We see God’s faithfulness. We see promises fulfilled. We see baby boys cradled in arms that had long ached for them.
Their wait wasn’t a no. It was just a delay.
This brings up an important question: Why does God sometimes delay answering our prayers?
The Bible gives several reasons—things like unforgiveness, pride, wrong motives, or unbelief. But there are also times when God holds off on answering prayer for reasons beyond us. Let’s look at a few:
- God’s works – To put His power on display (Job 9:3)
- Supernatural opposition – The enemy resists breakthrough (Daniel 10:13)
- Perseverance in prayer – To strengthen faith and persistence (Luke 18:1)
- Avoiding harm – Because His ways are higher (Isaiah 55:8-9)
- God’s timing – He is working behind the scenes (1 Samuel 1 – 2:22)
As you can see, there are many reasons for a delay—and many of them have nothing to do with you. That’s why holding on to a healthy perspective is so important. It helps you stay anchored in biblical hope and persevere with confidence, knowing God still has more for you.
Here are four ways to keep a healthy perspective in the waiting…
1. A healthy perspective remembers God’s character.
Keeping God’s true nature at the forefront of our hearts and minds is vital. Without it, the enemy will tempt us to let our circumstances define who God is. We may start to believe He is distant, forgetful of our needs, or even unloving—at least toward us. Over time, this can lead us to doubt His desire to heal, restore, and redeem, making it seem like He’s too busy doing other things. But when we anchor ourselves in the truth of who He is, rather than what we see in the moment, we guard our faith against these lies.
If we believe that God’s Word is the ultimate truth—over our feelings, thoughts, or anyone else’s opinion—then all we have to do is look to scripture to see how He feels about us, His children.
Romans 8:38-39 tells us that as children of God, nothing can separate us from His love. What does this mean? It means He still loves you when you don’t read your Bible as often as you’d like. He still loves you when you mess up, when you struggle, or even when you feel distant. His love isn’t based on your performance or whether you’ve “earned it”—it’s unconditional.
Does this mean we’re free to sin or live however we want? No, but God’s love for you isn’t based on your actions; it’s based on who He is. He loves you because He is love, and He can’t deny Himself.
WHAT GOOD NEWS!!!
Now, on to #3…
3. A healthy perspective remembers God’s promises.
Did you know there are thousands of promises from God throughout the Bible? If you’ve got the time, dive into all of them. But if not, take a look at Psalm 37. This chapter is packed with incredible promises:
- The Lord will uphold the righteous with His hand, even if they stumble.
- The Lord will bring justice to those who cry out to Him.
- The Lord will give the desires of those who delight in Him.
- The Lord will provide for those who trust in Him.
- The Lord will exalt those who hope in Him to inherit the land.
- The Lord will make the steps of those who delight in Him firm.
- The Lord will give wisdom to the righteous.
What an amazing list! And this is just a small portion of what God has promised. Imagine what else is waiting for you in His Word!
Lastly, let’s look at #4…
4. A healthy perspective worships in the wait.
Isaiah 26:3 and Romans 12:1-2 teach us that worshiping God strengthens our hearts and transforms our attitudes while we wait. If we look at Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25-26, we see that after being beaten and shackled in prison for spreading the gospel, they had every reason to complain and curse God. After all, they were doing His work, and surely He could have prevented this, right? But instead, they chose to worship. Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God, and in response, the prison shook with an earthquake, the doors flew open, and their chains broke free.
Their worship saved them. Their songs of praise set them free.
It begs the question: What could your worship do?
If you find yourself feeling depressed, angry, or bitter in the wait—worship.
If you’re scared, hopeless, or overwhelmed with worry—worship.
If you’re sick and in need of healing—worship.
Sweet friend, worship in the waiting as you remember God’s character, His attitude toward you, and His unfailing promises. Let the act of worship be your anchor in the storm, the lifeline that connects your heart to the One who holds your future. Trust that even in the delay, God is working all things together for your good, and that His timing is perfect. Keep your eyes on Him, and know that your praise has power. He is with you, and He will never leave you.
With all my love – Elisha, founder of Waiting for Baby Bird
