Please help. First time making Homemade bread!?

Well I made the dough and it was perfect. Its been setting for almost two hours. It won't really rise. I thought that it did so I tried to deflat it and knead the bubbles out of it and when I was done with that it looked the exact same size (this was after setting for over an hour). Am I rushing it? I have it setting now but I don't know whats wrong or what I should do. Please help me?