9-30-2026
I’m guessing that most of us have paused to pray at some point in our lives. Whether it was just before we asked that “certain someone” to the prom (“Dear, God, please let her say, ‘Yes’!”), or maybe it was when there were flashing red lights in the rear view mirror (“Dear God, please let this just be a warning.”)
Maybe it a prayer for someone else, a child, a parent, a friend or even a perfect stranger who happened to cross our path. Even if you’re not one who prays regularly, I’m guessing you’ve prayed from time to time.
Going along with that, I’m fairly certain that you’re familiar with the three possible answers to prayer. God may say, “Yes!” We get pretty excited about this one, right? God may say, “No”! We’re usually pretty bummed out when we get this answer, but in reality, often this answer is to protect us. Case in point: you go to your high school reunion and you see him across the room and whisper a quick prayer under your breath, “God, thank you that he and I didn’t work out!”
But there’s a third possible answer from God. Rather than, “Yes” or, “No”, God may say, “Not yet”. Depending on what the prayer request is, this third one may very well be the most difficult to deal with. So when you get this answer, let me remind you of a few things to keep in focus:
1) If you’re discouraged because of God’s delay in answering your prayers, understand that delay is not a denial.
2) Just because the answer or the miracle hasn’t come yet doesn’t mean God isn’t going to answer—or that he’s forgotten you or doesn’t care about you. It simply means “not yet”!
3) Part of becoming spiritually mature is learning the difference between “no” and “not yet,” between a denial and a delay.
God’s delay may be a test of your patience. Anybody can be patient once. And most people can be patient twice—or even three times. It’s when our patience is tested over and over again that we become impatient and, sometimes, make foolish choices to do foolish things.
Does God do this to see how patient you are? No, He does it so you can see how patient you are. His testing helps you see God’s power at work in you and examine your level of commitment to Him. He also wants to show you His faithfulness, even if the answers you seek are delayed.
You may be going through difficult times right now. You may be discouraged because the situation you face seems unmanageable, unreasonable, or unfair. Whatever you do, don’t give up because God is with you. He’ll equip you to press on.
Remember, you are never a failure until you quit. Resist discouragement and finish the race God has set before you.
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, ‘In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.’” Hebrews 10:36-37 (NIV)
So, whether the answer is, “Yes”, “No” or “Not yet”, continue to pray. There’s no guarantee that everything will go the way you want it to, but there is always God’s promise to do what’s best for us.