1. Did your parents ever tell you "no," and give you the reason "because I said so?" How did that make you feel? Are those feelings similar when God says "no" and it seems to you that He really doesn't have a very good reason for it? Do you ever think of God as your Heavenly Father that is infinitely more wise and knowing than you are, and knows what's best for your life?
2. This man was begging and pleading with the disciples to heal his son. It wasn't a bogus, off-the-wall claim. Have you had a point in your life where you asked God for a legitimate, important request, and he said no? In hindsight, can you now understand why you got the answer that you did? What did God teach you during that process?
3. What are the areas of your life that you are MOST likely to bring to God first? What are the areas of your life that you are LEAST likely to bring to God?
4. Why doesn't God just answer all of our prayers? Why does he sometimes wait, say no, or actually allow the opposite of what we've prayed for happen?
5. God views our lives from the lens of James 4:14, like a vapor or a mist that dissipates quickly. How should that mentality and outlook on life change and shape our view of God's response to our prayers? Does it make it any easier to understand why He does what He does?
6. How can you personally implement the 3 takeaways from this text in your life?
a. Help my unbelief. (9:24)
b. Bring it to Jesus. (9:19-20)
c. Some things can only be solved through intense prayer. (9:29)
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