Session 14: Prayer and Trust – The Persistent Widow & George Müller

Scripture: Luke 18:1–8
Mission Focus: George Müller (Prussia → England)
Key Verse: Luke 18:1
Series: Missions: Big World, Bigger God

Lesson Overview

What can we do when we have prayed but the answer seems slow?

In this session, children explore Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow and His invitation to keep praying without losing heart. They then meet George Müller, who brought every need to God while caring for thousands of children.

Together, these stories teach children that persistent prayer does not force God to give us whatever we want. It means continuing to speak honestly with our loving Father, trusting His wisdom and timing, and faithfully doing what He has shown us.

What Children Will Learn

• Jesus invites us to keep praying and not give up.
• God is loving, just, wise, and attentive.
• We do not have to persuade God to care about us.
• God may say yes, no, wait, or answer in an unexpected way.
• We can continue trusting and obeying while we wait.
• Remembering God’s past faithfulness helps us trust Him with today’s needs.
• Prayer, careful work, and practical action belong together.

📖 Bible Focus: The Persistent Widow

This session begins with a parable Jesus told to teach His followers that they should always pray and not lose heart.

Children meet a widow who repeatedly asked an unjust judge to give her justice.

They’ll discover that:

• the widow continued asking instead of giving up
• the judge eventually helped her for selfish reasons
• God is completely different from the unjust judge
• God already loves us and listens to every prayer
• persistent prayer expresses trust rather than trying to annoy or control God

Children also explore what it means to trust God’s answer and timing. We can speak honestly to Him when we feel disappointed, continue doing what is right, and remember that He is always wise and good.

🙏 Mission Story: George Müller

Children are then introduced to George Müller, who cared for thousands of orphaned children in Bristol, England.

His story shows children that trusting God does not mean sitting still and doing nothing.

They’ll discover how:

• George’s life changed when he began to know and trust God
• George and his wife, Mary, opened their first home for thirty girls
• the homes eventually cared for more than ten thousand children
• George brought every need to God in prayer
• he also planned carefully, worked faithfully, and watched for God’s provision
• people gave food, clothing, furniture, money, buildings, and even land
• George recorded both the needs and the answers to prayer

Remembering how God had helped before gave George courage to trust Him with the next need. He also wanted others to discover that they could trust God.

His words become the heart of the missionary story:

“God delights to increase the faith of His children.”

This session helps children see that faith is not about demanding a particular answer. It is about praying, working, waiting, obeying, remembering, and thanking God for His faithful care.

🎥 Watch the Story Videos

The Persistent Widow – Bible Story

George Müller – Short Biography

George Müller – Full Story

Lesson Resources

Everything you need to teach this session in one printable pack:

• Step-by-step teaching guide
• Illustrated Bible and missionary stories
• Colour and black-and-white story pages
• Group games and discussion questions
• Prayer Footsteps application activity
• Luke 18:1 memory verse activities
• Missionary focus cards
• England worksheet
• Design the Bristol Home activity
• Judge or God? sorting activity
• Word search
• George Müller’s Prayer Wheel
• Prayer Book zine
• Catch the Judge board game
• Colouring pages
• One Prayer take-home challenge
• Printable reward badges
• Answer page

Printable Story Booklets (Optional)

Includes fully illustrated story booklets about George Müller. Ideal for take-home use, lesson review, and helping children retell the missionary story.

FREE DOWNLOAD

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