Joseph’s Life Lessons: Pass the Test or Take it Again—When God’s Growing You, Not Grading You

You ever feel like life is just trolling you? 

Like you’ve been dropped into the same situation on repeat? 

Same drama, different day. 

Same argument with your mom, same friend group tension, same ugh why is this happening again? vibe. 

It’s almost like God’s handing you a pop quiz and saying, “Hey, let’s see how you handle it this time.” 

And honestly? Sometimes I’m like, “Plot twist — I did NOT study for this.”

Yeah, welcome to teen life. 

One minute you’re laughing with your friends, the next minute a sibling does something so ridiculous you wonder if God is watching just to see what you’ll do. 

And let’s be honest — one of the most annoying things in life is when you feel like you’re stuck on repeat.

But here’s the deal: those repeat moments aren’t random. 

They’re tests. 

And God’s tests aren’t about handing out gold stars or catching you failing. 

They’re about growth. 

If you blow it? 

Cool, you’ll just retake it. 

If you lean in and respond differently? That’s how you level up.

If that’s you, then you are exactly in the right place.

And let me give you some perspective, God’s not trying to trap you—He’s giving you a chance to show off how much you’ve grown since the last time.

So if you’ve made it this far, buckle up, because today we’re diving into all those tests, figuring out what lessons are hiding in the chaos, and how God wants to turn them into wins for your heart.

Hey, girl! Welcome back to FR, Let’s Talk, the podcast where we take real questions from Christian teen girls and unpack them with biblical truth—without making it boring, awkward, or impossible to apply to real life. 

If you ever have a question—like, literally anything—head over to www.frletstalk.com and submit it. 

No judgment. 

No wrong questions. 

We might even feature your question in an upcoming episode.

Now, before we get all deep and heavy, let’s keep it light for a sec. You know how life can get super intense? That’s why we have Funny Confessions—our little tradition for keeping life fluffy because, let’s be honest, it’s heavy 99.8% of the time. 

So…here’s my ridiculousness for the week: my skincare routine is basically a disaster movie disguised as self-care. 

I thought piling on every serum, cream, and mask in one night would turn me into a glowing goddess. Instead? I looked like a shiny, sticky lizard ready to be the disco ball at a one-person house party. And washing it off? 

Let’s just say my bathroom turned into a slip-and-slide. Honestly, I feel like my skincare routine is secretly just a way to procrastinate REAL LIFE. 

Can anyone relate? 

Girl, DM me your funny confessions—I seriously want to hear them! 

Ok, now…speaking of chaos—let me tell you about something brand new this season that I am seriously so excited to share. 

After some nudges from the Holy Spirit—and a little (okay, a lot) of prayer—I’ve decided it’s time we dive into the juicy, messy stuff. 

You know, the hot-button, eyebrow-raising topics your youth group side-steps and your group chat can’t stop buzzing about!

Yea, an we’re calling it Holy but Heated. That’s right, babe. 

And this is where we’re going to unpack all the hot-button topics that make Christians squirm.

Think stuff like horoscopes, manifesting, crystals, enneagram types, modesty, purity, anxiety—you name it, we hit it. 

These are “holy” because they relate to faith, but “heated” because they are controversial, taboo, or just plain hard to talk about! 

So buckle up, babes—every week we’re unpacking the tricky stuff, dropping truth bombs from Scripture, and owning that it’s complicated AS HECK! 

So keep your eyes peeled for this new series, Holy but Heated dropping NEXT WEEK! Ok, now that that’s out of the way, let’s bring it back to our season-long journey with Joseph.

If this is your first time tuning in, don’t worry—I will catch you RIGHT up. And, shoutout for being here. I’m so stoked you found us, for real. 

Anyway Joseph’s life has been full of twists, turns, and God-sized moments. 

He started out favored by his dad, hated by his brothers, and then betrayed—sold into slavery for silver. 

He ended up in Egypt, falsely accused and thrown into prison, only for God to flip his story in the most unexpected ways. 

He interpreted dreams, gained favor with Pharaoh, and became second-in-command, saving the nation during seven years of famine after seven years of plenty. 

And that brings us to where we are today, in Genesis 42.

Now, in Genesis 42, things get really intense. 

Jacob sees the famine hitting Canaan, and he asks his sons why they’re just standing around when they could go to Egypt to buy food. 

Ten of them go, leaving Benjamin behind, fearful for his safety. 

They arrive in Egypt and bow before Joseph—but here’s the twist: Joseph recognizes them immediately, but THEY - they don’t know it’s him. 

And instead of a dramatic reveal, Joseph runs a little test. 

He wants to see if his brothers have matured, if their hearts have changed, or if they’re still the same men who sold him into slavery years ago. 

Now, let’s pause here, because I don’t want you to miss this. 

This test, it’s not about revenge babe. It’s actually about integrity.

Yea, it’s about growth. 

It’s about seeing if they are ready for a new chapter in God’s plan.

And that, my friends, is exactly what we’re talking about today. Tests of integrity. Tests of maturity. Tests of growth. 

So if you have your bibles, turn with me to Genesis 42 or open up your Bible app! 

Today we’re reading from Genesis 42, so BIG 42, versus 7 through 24…which means you’re looking for little number 7. Ok, find it? Let’s go: 

Verse 7…

7 Then Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”

8 And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

9 And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land!”

10 They said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.

11 We are all sons of one man. We are honest men; your servants have never been spies.”

12 He said to them, “No! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!”

13 But they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.

14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you: you are spies!

15 In this way you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here.

16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, so that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.”

17 And he put them all together in custody for three days.

18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and live, for I fear God:

19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison house, and go, carry grain for the famine of your households.

20 But bring your youngest brother to me; your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so.

21 They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother; we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us.

22 Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen; and now we must give an accounting for his blood.”

23 They did not know that Joseph understood, for there was an interpreter between them.

24 And he turned away from them and wept. Then he returned to them and spoke to them, and took Simeon from among them and bound him before their eyes. 

Okay, let’s hit pause for a sec—yep, I know, that was a lot. 

But here’s what I want you to notice: watch how Joseph is paying attention, how he reacts, and how he sets up this whole situation to really see what his brothers are made of. 

And here’s the key—this isn’t just about Joseph. 

It’s the same way God the Father watches over us, responds, and sometimes puts us in situations that test our hearts. 

This moment is full of lessons about God’s style of testing—not to punish us, but to help us grow.

This is God-level testing vibes right here, you know?

You see, God puts situations in our path—not to catch us slipping, but to see if we’re ready to show some growth. 

And this moment? 

It is packed with lessons about how God tests us in a way that actually builds us up.

Now, to make this even more real, let’s tie this into another story straight from Scripture. 

Remember Abraham? God asked him to do something really intense—He told Abraham to take his son Isaac, the one he had waited years for, and offer him as a sacrifice. 

Can you even imagine that?  Like, talk about a heart-stopping test. But here’s the thing: God wasn’t trying to trap Abraham or catch him failing. 

God was testing his heart, his faith, and his trust—basically asking, ‘Are you ready to show me what’s in your heart when the pressure’s on?’

Just like Joseph watching his brothers, God sometimes sets up situations in our lives to see what we’re made of. 

He watches, He responds, and He gives us opportunities to grow—not to punish, but to help us become more like Him. That’s God-level testing vibes, right?

So, back to Joseph… Watch how he’s paying attention, how he reacts, and how he sets up this whole situation to really see if his brothers have matured. 

Life can feel unfair or heavy, but here’s the bottom line, girls: God isn’t grading your performance. He’s measuring your growth. 

And if you don’t pass the test the first time? Don’t stress—you might just get to take it again. 

Again babe, not as punishment, but as practice for the next level of your heart and faith.

So what does that look like in your life today? Let’s tackle a few “real life scenarios” to see how this might play out in our day to day lives.

Scenario one—your friend says something totally mean about you behind your back. Last time, you might have snapped, sent a savage text, or spent hours overthinking how to get revenge.

But this time? You pause. Pray. Take a deep breath. Respond with kindness—or maybe just step away and let it go. That’s passing the test.

Scenario two—you’re in the middle of a group project, and literally everyone wants to cut corners and take the easy way out. Your gut tells you, ‘This isn’t right,’ but the pressure to go along is intense. You could cave, like you might have before, or you could stand firm, do the work with integrity, and maybe even inspire someone else to do the same. That’s a growth moment.

Scenario three—maybe it’s way more subtle: anxiety hits before a big test, a performance, or even just talking to someone new. Last time, panic won. This time, you stop, breathe, pray, and trust God’s got you. That’s passing a spiritual test in real-time.

See what I mean? The tests are everywhere, not because God wants to see you fail, but because He wants to grow your heart, strengthen your character, and teach you how to rely on Him. And the coolest part? Even if you stumble, you get another shot. Life isn’t about perfect scores—it’s about building your spiritual muscles one test at a time.

And that’s the thing, girls—these tests aren’t just random chaos. They’re intentional, little checkpoints from God, giving you the chance to level up your heart and faith. So before we move on, let’s take a sec to really reflect…

One, where in my life do I keep ending up in the same situation with the same reaction? 

Am I really growing, or just getting good at faking maturity? 

Two, what’s one test God might be asking me to face right now? And when that test pops up again, will I be petty or prayerful, defensive or discerning? 

Let this verse be your guide: James 1:4—“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

And three, how can I lean on God differently this time instead of trying to handle it all on my own?

Alright, girls, let’s take a minute to hand all those thoughts, questions, and ‘oops-I-failed-again’ moments over to God. Let’s talk to Him together.

Bow your head and close your eyes…

Father God, 

Thank You for always loving us through the tests. 

Help us to see the ways You are growing our hearts, not grading our performance. 

Give us wisdom, patience, and courage to face the challenges in front of us. 

Teach us to choose maturity, love, and faithfulness, even when it’s hard. 

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Alright, friends, here’s your challenge this week: the next time life throws a test your way, pause. 

Ask yourself: Am I about to pass this? 

Or am I about to retake it? 

Let growth win. 

Let Jesus show off. 

And remember, you’ve got this—so don’t just survive the test, slay it with Jesus cheering you on. And hey, tell your group chat about this episode, share the website www.frletstalk.com, and remind them that this is your space to ask ANY question—without your questions, this podcast wouldn’t even exist!

And if this episode hit you in the heart (or made you laugh, or think, or both), drop a review so we can keep growing this little corner of teen girl faith magic together.

And until next time, flex that faith BABE!