Daily Lesson for Monday 11th of May 2026

Perhaps you’ve prayed about something for a long time, maybe even years, and it feels as if God hasn’t heard your prayers. The Bible tells us to “ask, and it shall be given you” (Matthew 7:7), “if we ask anything according to His will” (1 John 5:14, NKJV). What is your understanding of these promises?

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

Hannah is an example of a devoted woman who prayed for something very specific (1 Samuel 1:10-17). At first it seemed that God did not answer her prayers, but she persisted, and God did answer, in His perfect time and according to His will. Sometimes the waiting deepens our walk with God, as we learn to trust Him more.

Psalms 62:8 says, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (NKJV). Trust. Do we trust that He really does know what’s best, even when we don’t see an immediate answer to our prayers? Do we trust that eventually He will answer in His perfect time and way?

Sometimes our prayers may not be answered as quickly as we want or in the manner that we hope they will be. What counsel does the Bible give us about this?

• Seek God’s will, not your own (Matthew 6:10; 1 John 5:14-15).

• Consider your motives (Proverbs 16:2, James 4:3).

• Think about whether you have a cherished sin (Psalms 66:18, 1 Peter 3:12, Proverbs 15:29).

• Abide in God and in His Word (John 15:7).

• Have faith when you pray (Hebrews 11:6, James 1:6, Mark 11:24, Matthew 21:22).

• Consider the state of your heart (humble or proud) (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:6).

• Persevere (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).

• Forgive others (Mark 11:25-26).

• Ultimately, God sees the big picture and knows what is best for us (Romans 8:28, Ephesians 3:20, Jeremiah 29:11-13). Sometimes His answer merely is as it was for Paul: “ ‘My grace is sufficient for you’ ” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NKJV).

A key fact that determines our response to what seems like unanswered prayers is our picture of God. If we see God as distant and disinterested, our relationship with Him weakens. In such times, search the Bible for evidence of His love and care for you, and pray that your distorted picture of Him will become clearer.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26b-07-when-prayers-seem-unanswered/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26b-07-when-prayers-seem-unanswered

Prepared for Sabbath School Class on May 16, 2026. 

Photograph by William Earnhardt

Key Text: “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8, NKJV).

Read in Class: 1 Kings 19:1-18.

Study: What is at the heart of Elijah’s dejection here? How is God’s response different from what happened at Mount Carmel?

Apply: God, our good and kind Father, knows exactly what you need. How can you be still enough to trust Him and keep your eyes steadfast on Him through it all?

Share: When talking to a friend who feels like God is always telling her, “No,” how can the passage we just studied help you share how God loves us even when telling us, “No?” After all, when Elijah asked to die, did God tell Eliha, yes, wait, or no? For a hint, see 2 Kings 2.

Read in Class: Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke 11:2-4.

Study: What interesting things do you notice about Jesus’ prayer?

Our Father in heaven: Acknowledging your personal relationship with the Father of all.
Hallowed be Your name: Recognizing God’s holiness makes us come in reverence and respect.
Your kingdom come: Longing for God’s return and an indwelling of the Holy Spirit until He does so.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven: Surrendering and praying for God’s will to be done in our lives, trusting that He knows best, rather than merely praying for what we want.
Give us this day our daily bread: Asking for what we need to live, both physically (food and water) and spiritually (Jesus and His living Word).
Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us: Repenting, seeking forgiveness, and remembering to pardon those who have hurt us as freely as God forgives us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: Asking for protection and shelter from the evil in this world (Psalm 91).
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen: Acknowledging that all we are, all we have, and all we do belongs to God. He alone deserves our glory and praise (1 Chron. 29:11).
Apply: How do your prayers compare to Jesus’ prayer? For example, giving us (not just me) our daily bread and forgiving us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us?

Share: Your friend asks why some people pray such long public prayers in church, when all of Jesus’ public prayers were very brief? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Daniel 9:4-19.

Study: Where do you find praise, thanksgiving, confession, and forgiveness, as well as requests, in Daniel’s prayer?

Apply: What things do you need to praise God for, confess to Him, request from Him, and to thank Him for? Why not do it right now?

Share: Can you explain how Daniel’s prayer illustrates humility rather than pride in prayer?

Read in Class: Romans 8:26-27.

Study: What kinds of weaknesses is Paul referring to and how does the Holy Spirit help with those weaknesses?

Apply: How does “groanings which cannot be uttered” help you understand the communication between us, the Holy Spirit, and the Father?

Share: Can you share any examples of people in the Bible who did not know exactly how to pray, or had prayers answered in ways they did not expect?

Mission: Can you text some of your phone contacts this week and simply ask how you can pray for them, and then, of course, pray for them?

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/7-practical-prayer-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=7-practical-prayer-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan