Please Be Patient – Student Disciple

Last week, while I was driving on the interstate, I saw a bumper sticker that read:

“Please be patient—student driver.”

It made me smile, but it also made me think.

When we see that sticker, most of us immediately give a little more grace. We expect a wide turn, a sudden brake, or a hesitant lane change. Why? Because we understand that the person behind the wheel is still learning. They’re not experienced yet. They are going to make mistakes. That’s part of the process of becoming a fully trained driver.

In the same way, we need that same heart posture when it comes to new disciples of Christ.

Young believers are spiritual “student drivers.” They are learning how to follow Jesus, how to hear His voice, how to read the Bible, how to walk in obedience, how to repent, how to trust, and how to grow spiritually. And just like anyone learning something new, they are going to mess up. They are going to fail. They are going to make mistakes. They are going to have moments of immaturity. They may even let us down.

But so have we.

The truth is, all of us are still a work in process. None of us has arrived. Every spiritually mature believer today was once a brand-new follower of Jesus, trying to figure out what it meant to live a surrendered life. Growth takes time. Sanctification takes time. Spiritual maturity takes time.

That’s why Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:12 that we are to “clothe ourselves” with five specific attributes:

1. Mercy—Young disciples need mercy because they will stumble. They may repeat mistakes, wrestle with old habits, or struggle to understand truth right away. Mercy reminds us not to write people off when they are still learning to walk with Jesus.
2. Kindness—Correction without kindness can crush a new believer. Kindness creates safety. It reminds them that growth in Christ is not about perfection overnight, but about faithfully following Him one step at a time.
3. Humility—It remembers, “That could be me… and at one point, it was.” It keeps us from becoming harsh, prideful, or impatient with someone else’s spiritual growth process. Humility allows us to walk beside people instead of looking down on them.
4. Gentleness—Not every lesson needs to come with force. Gentleness matters when someone is fragile, confused, ashamed, or discouraged. A gentle response can keep a struggling disciple from giving up entirely.
5. Patience—This may be the hardest one of all. We often want people to grow faster, change more quickly, and mature sooner. But patience recognizes that God is writing their story. Just as the Lord has been patient with us, we must be patient with new disciples of Christ.

Listen closely: Don’t forget these five attributes. Getting angry at a student driver for not handling the road like a professional is unrealistic, and honestly, it’s unfair.

Discipleship is not just about teaching truth; it’s also about making room for spiritual growth.

Start seeing new believers with a spiritual bumper sticker over their lives: “Please be patient—student disciple.”

And if you’re honest, maybe that sticker still belongs on you as well.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.