If a feud develops between you and someone else, you must make efforts to heal the breach. Some never do; they just avoid the other person. As a result the offence remains unhealed. No, you should pray and then do something to express goodwill. This is what Jacob is doing.
Many, when they first begin to seek Christ, do not yet have their hearts fully in it. There is a bundle of sins that I want to keep for myself; my repentance is incomplete. I try to hold onto God while at the same time retaining my hold on the world and on my sins. Then again, being self-deceived, we only asked for a little when we ought to ask for much. We say, ‘I don’t need salvation as much as some others.’ When Jacob prays, God holds up his hand and says, ‘No Jacob. I will give you no blessing of assurance yet. You are still not trusting me as you should; you are still not as repentant as you should be.’ Sometimes God leaves the sinner abiding a while at his door of mercy. You knock as the door, but it stays shut and you need more sincerity. Do we really understand what it means to trust in Christ alone?
Even after he has taken these precautions, there is still some doubt in his mind. ‘Peradventure [Perhaps] he will accept me.’ Doubt does not altogether disqualify our approach to God. As a seeker I may come to God but have doubts which seem to disqualify me. Yes, but Jacob had more faith than doubt, he is hazarding all in order to obey the Lord’s command to return home.