Jacob-Level Faith (Joseph's Dad): Seeking God for Crystal Clear Answers Even When Life Is Messy

Jacob was so messy it’s honestly impressive—favoring some kids, totally ignoring the rest, letting his past mistakes pile up like laundry he refuses to fold—and if there were a “Crappiest Dad of the Year” award, he’d have snatched that trophy with a grin.

And yet… in the middle of all that chaos, he does something wild: he goes straight to God for confirmation. Yep. The same Jacob who had a long history of screw-ups, favoritism, and general messy parenting still showed up to God and asked for a clear next step.

Ever been there? You’re stuck in the same mistakes, spiraling in patterns you hate, thinking, “Nope, God’s definitely ghosting me this time. I’ve ruined it. Total radio silence.” And then—you do the one thing you think you can do: you seek Him.

You ask.

You pray.

You say, “God, show me exactly what to do.”

And here’s the twist you’re gonna love: God shows up—loud, clear, generous, and zero judgment—especially when we’re asking about something specific that matters.

Today, we’re going to unpack how God meets us right in our mess, gives us specific wisdom, and how even when we’re knee-deep in our own chaos, He’s still there. Lean in, because this one’s about to get good.

HEADS UP: We have 4 more episodes left in our Joseph series, where we will wrap up the entire story of Joseph all the way through Genesis 50. 

Our final Joseph episode will air Wednesday, December 3rd. 

At the same time, we’ll wrap up Season 2 with 2 more “Holy but Heated” episodes dropping November 3rd and November 17th, with a few bonus episodes sprinkled in for good measure. 

You’re Welcome.

Basically that means December gives you almost an entire month to binge all episodes from Season 1 and 2, catch up, and get totally ready for Season 3 relaunching Friday, January 2nd, 2026. 

So, if you’ve been behind or just want a Joseph marathon, December is your month to dive deep, take notes, snack heavily, and reflect. Got it? GREAT! 

Now, before we hit the Bible, you know EXACTLY what time it is. 

It is FUNNY CONFESSIONS time, BABE! 

If you’re new, I do these at the start of every episode. It’s a coping mechanism from my 40-year-old life that teen girls always end up relating to. This week? 

Hear me out. You know how life feels like it’s spinning out faster than your Wi-Fi on a Monday morning? Bills, emails, family chaos, responsibilities… basically everything.

And then—ding, ding!—your phone blows up with notifications. Group texts. DMs.

“Hey, did you see this?” “Are you coming?” “We need an answer yesterday!” And suddenly, you’re like, I literally can’t even.

So here’s what I do: I just… don’t respond right away. Days can go by. Maybe even a week. And it feels insane, but in that little moment of radio silence, I feel like I’m holding the steering wheel of my own life again. Like, I’m not a passenger in this chaos bus; I’m the driver—temporarily, at least.

And the funny part? I know it’s ridiculous. I know people are probably thinking, “She’s ignoring me!” But in my head, it’s not ignoring—it’s strategic self-preservation. It’s like I’ve created this tiny bubble of power and calm in a world that’s otherwise totally out of control.

And the part you’ll relate to the most? Sometimes, teen life feels exactly like that.

Homework piling up, friends acting extra, family stress, hormones, social media pressure—it’s a lot. And sometimes, you just need to hit pause, even if it’s just a text, to reclaim a tiny piece of your sanity. That’s what I’m doing. That’s why I laugh about it. It’s messy. It’s silly. But it works.

So, if you catch me not answering your text immediately, just know… I’m not ignoring you. I’m strategically surviving life, one unread message at a time. And honestly, don’t we all need that little bubble of control sometimes?

Ok, funny confessions behind us, let’s do a quick debrief from last week’s episode. 

Last week in Genesis 45 we saw Joseph show us how courage and forgiveness can completely change the game. Instead of ghosting his brothers or holding grudges, he stepped into the hardest conversation of his life—face-to-face with the very people who sold him into slavery.

He cried.

He forgave.

And he trusted God to handle the outcome.

That’s right—reconciliation takes guts, and it’s messy, awkward, and scary, but it also brings life, healing, and freedom.

He’s literally the “Crappiest Dad of the Year,” yet he does something wild—he goes straight to God for specific confirmation about what to do next. Even when he’s knee-deep in his past mistakes and messy patterns, God shows up—loud, clear, and generous—with guidance and reassurance.

In this episode, we’re diving into what it looks like to seek God boldly for specific answers, even when you feel like your past disqualifies you. 

We’ll see how God meets Jacob right in the middle of his chaos and how He can meet us the same way today.

Today, we’re only scratching the surface of Genesis 46, zooming in on verses 1–5, and you are not gonna want to miss this. Jacob is basically like, “Okay God, I need a YES or NO, and I need it loud and clear.” So what does he do? He packs up his courage (just him, solo style) and sets out on a personal mission to seek God’s confirmation. This isn’t a casual “Hey God, what do you think?” moment. Nope. This is full-on, sacrificial, intentional, heart-on-fire kind of prayer energy.

And get this—Jacob doesn’t just talk. He offers sacrifices and heads back to Beersheba, the OG sacred spot where his dad and grandpa had epic encounters with God. These aren’t just cute rituals.

They’re his way of saying: “God, I’m serious. I’m honoring the promises you made to Abraham, Isaac, and me. I’m preparing my heart for what’s next.” Scholars actually call this an intentional narrative frame: first, God reassures, then Jacob worships and seeks confirmation, and finally, the journey to Egypt kicks off.

Here’s the wild part: Jacob was basically the “Crappiest Dad of the Year”. He had favoritism issues, messy patterns, and past mistakes stacked high—but even in all that chaos, he goes to God anyway. Not half-heartedly, not “just hoping for a text back,” but full-on, humbly, sacrificially, with a heart ready to listen. And guess what? God shows up. Loud. Clear. Generous. Like, “Here’s exactly what you need, Jacob, now go rock this next step.”

So here’s what I want you to do: grab your Bible or Bible app, get comfy, maybe even grab a snack because we’re about to dive in together. We’re going to read Genesis 46:1–5 in the MESSAGE translation and watch Jacob step out in faith, bring his sacrifices, and receive God’s confirmation for the next chapter of his life. Think of it as a front-row seat to God saying, “I got you, even in the mess, even when life feels messy!"

Genesis 46:1–5 (The Message)

1 Then Israel set out with everything he owned and came to Beersheba. He offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” He replied, “Yes, Lord?”

3 God said, “I am God, the God of your father. Don’t be afraid to go to Egypt. I’ll make you into a great nation there.

4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt. I will make sure you have plenty when you get there. Joseph will be the one to close your eyes when you die.”

5 Then Jacob left Beersheba, and his sons took him, along with his wives, their children, and everything he owned.

Okay, squad, let’s break this down and get real about what’s happening here.

Verse 1: “Then Israel set out with everything he owned and came to Beersheba. He offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.”

First, notice Jacob’s intentionality. He didn’t just hop in a chariot and hope for the best. He went back to Beersheba, a sacred spot with history—where his father and grandfather had deep encounters with God. That’s like going to the original VIP lounge for faith, a place that screams, “I want God to meet me right here, where history shows He shows up.” And the sacrifices?

These weren’t just rituals to look religious. They were a heart posture: Jacob saying, “God, I need you to be real with me. I need clear guidance. I’m laying this all down before You.” Even though he had messy patterns, favoritism issues, and probably a few “oops-I-messed-up-again” moments, he’s still going.

Verse 2–3: “And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, ‘Jacob! Jacob!’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord?’ God said, ‘I am God… Don’t be afraid to go to Egypt. I’ll make you into a great nation there.’”

This is the mic-drop moment. God doesn’t ghost Jacob. He calls him personally, shows up in visions, and gives exact confirmation about the next steps. Even when Jacob probably felt like, “I’ve messed up too many times. God’s not gonna answer me now,” God still shows up loud and clear.

This is huge for us. How often do we feel stuck in our mistakes, patterns, or moments of sin, thinking God won’t answer our prayers? Guess what? He does.

Loudly.

Generously.

With clarity.

Verse 4: “I myself will go down with you to Egypt. I will make sure you have plenty when you get there. Joseph will be the one to close your eyes when you die.”

God promises presence AND provision. He says, “I’m going with you, I’m watching over you, I’ve got your back, and I’ll take care of you along the way.”

Imagine having your teen-life equivalent of, “I’ve got you” whispered straight into your ear. That’s exactly what God is saying here: you can approach Me, even messy, even broken, even scared—and I’ve got you covered.

Verse 5: “Then Jacob left Beersheba, and his sons took him, along with his wives, their children, and everything he owned.”

Now Jacob moves forward with confidence. He’s armed with God’s confirmation, his own heart prepared, and the blessing of history behind him. He doesn’t wait to feel perfect or worthy—he just goes.

Alright, now that we’ve seen Jacob go full-on messy-but-bold, let’s connect this to other scriptures that literally bring Jacob-level energy into your own life.

Tying in Other Scripture for Teen Girls:

• Psalm 34:4 – “I prayed to God and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.”

  • TRANSLATION: Teens, when you’re scared to ask for guidance—big decision, friendship drama, or just life choices—prayer works, and God responds.

• Isaiah 41:10 – “Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.”

  • TRANSLATION: God’s presence is not dependent on how “good” you’ve been or how many times you’ve messed up.

• James 1:5 – “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it. He won’t scold you for asking.”

  • TRANSLATION: Literally Jacob-level energy: asking God boldly, even when your past is messy.

• Romans 8:38–39 – Nothing, not mistakes, not patterns, not sin, can separate us from God’s love.

  • TRANSLATION: Even when we’re stuck in cycles, God’s love never ghosts us.

Alright, my fearless friends—let’s hit pause for a sec and get real about what all of this means for your life right now, in 2025. We’re not talking vague “just pray and it’ll be fine” advice. We’re talking actionable, bold, heart-level steps that you can actually take, even when life feels messy and confusing.

1️⃣ Need a specific answer? Ask boldly.Think about it: Jacob didn’t tiptoe around God.

He literally marched in, offered sacrifices, and said, “I need clarity—here’s my mess, here’s my next move—show me what to do.” You can do the same! Maybe you’re stuck deciding which friend group to invest in, whether to try out for a team, or how to respond to drama in your group chat. Don’t whisper it timidly—ask God loudly, specifically, and without fear. Pretend you’re texting Him the biggest, boldest emoji-filled message ever: “God, I need your guidance on THIS, and I need it clear!”

2️⃣ Set your sacred spot.Jacob went back to Beersheba, a place that already had spiritual history, where his family had met God before. You don’t need to travel across the country—your sacred spot could be your bedroom, your backyard, a favorite coffee shop, or even a quiet corner at school. Make it your VIP prayer zone, the place where your thoughts, worries, hopes, and messy feelings meet God. Light a candle, throw on your headphones with worship, or grab a notebook—whatever makes it feel like a mini holy headquarters just for you.

3️⃣ Offer your heart as a sacrifice.This isn’t about bringing animals (thankfully), but it is about surrender. Write down the fears that keep spinning in your head, own the mistakes you keep repeating, and hand them over to God. Literally say, “God, here’s my mess. I need You to show up here.” It’s wild how much freedom this gives you—like letting go of a backpack full of bricks and realizing, oh wow, I can actually breathe here.

4️⃣ Trust the answer will come—even if you feel unqualified. Here’s the golden nugget: God meets messy hearts. Like, really meets them. He gives wisdom, guidance, reassurance, and clarity, even when you feel like you’ve blown it a hundred times. That means your past mistakes, repeated patterns, or cringe-worthy moments don’t disqualify you from receiving His help. His presence doesn’t ghost you—it shows up exactly where you are.

5️⃣ Move forward confidently.Once you’ve prayed, sought clarity, and received guidance, it’s time to take action. Even if it’s scary, even if you’re worried about judgment or failure, step forward. God goes with you—so you’re never walking into the unknown alone. Whether it’s a conversation, a decision, or a change in how you act in your friendships, take the step. Think of it like practicing your courage muscles: the more you use them, the stronger they get.

Alright, friends—let’s take a minute to lock these truths into our hearts with a prayer.

Wherever you are—bedroom, car, school bathroom, under your blanket fort—let’s invite God in together.

God, thank You for meeting us right where we are—even when our hearts are messy and our patterns repeat. Help us come boldly to You, asking for clarity and guidance in the things that matter most. Teach us to surrender our fears and mistakes, trusting that You will show up loud, clear, and generous. Give us courage to step forward when You lead, knowing You walk with us every step. Amen.

Alright besties, let’s wrap this up.

ONE MORE REMINDER, because I know repetition is your BFF and I don’t need an onslaught of emails saying, “HEY, why is season 2 already over?”

Reminder: Season 2 wraps up on Wednesday, December 3rd, and Season 3 launches January 2nd, 2026! That gives you almost the entire month of December to binge, catch up, and get ready for fresh stories, lessons, and all the fun we’ve got planned next year. And seriously—if you’ve got ideas, questions, or anything you want to see in Season 3, I am all ears. Send them my way—I want this season built for YOU.

Quick recap: Jacob—the Crappiest Dad of the Year—still went straight to God, offering sacrifices and seeking clear guidance, even while knee-deep in messy past choices.

The takeaway? Your mistakes don’t disqualify you, and your patterns don’t silence God.

Seek Him boldly, surrender your heart, and He will meet you with clarity and wisdom.

Alright, here’s the call: even in your chaos or repeated mistakes, keep going to God, asking for specific answers about your next step. He will show up—loud, clear, and generous. Take that next step with confidence, knowing He’s got the map and the power to lead you exactly where you need to go.