After church one recent Sunday, I watched a young child run up to his parent, excitedly holding out his “beautiful” Sunday school picture—which, in reality, was just a page covered in colorful crayon scribbles. The parent smiled, received it warmly, and celebrated it as if it were a masterpiece. That moment stayed with me.
It brought back a memory from when I was 16 years old. My oldest sister, who had four young children, asked me to babysit one evening. When I arrived, the kids were finishing dinner—talking a mile a minute and making me laugh. After we cleaned up, we headed into the living room—and that’s when I saw it. One wall my sister had just finished wallpapering was completely covered in crayon drawings.
I stopped and asked, “Whoa, what happened here?” One of the girls answered casually, “Oh, we did that.” I asked what their parents said. She replied matter-of-factly, “Mom cried for a while, got mad, and told us never to do it again.” Their innocence was undeniable. They knew they had done something wrong, but they didn’t fully understand the weight of it yet. They were very young and still learning.
That memory has often reminded me of young Christians.
Many have sincerely asked Jesus into their hearts. They’ve repented and begun their walk with God—but they are brand new. They don’t yet know much about His Word or fully understand what it means to grow in Christ. They are learning, little by little, week by week. And sometimes, like children with crayons on wallpaper, they make mistakes—not out of rebellion, but out of immaturity.
The apostle Peter speaks to this stage of growth: “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation” (1 Peter 2:2 NLT). Growth is expected. Maturity takes time.
In a recent conversation, I heard someone say about a new believer, “How can he call himself a Christian when he thinks and acts like that?” That kind of response misses the heart of God. Scripture reminds us, “You who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently” (Galatians 6:1 NIV). God’s heart is always restoration, not rejection.
Christians aren’t looking for condemnation. They’re looking for someone to love them, guide them, and walk with them as they grow. That’s one reason I started writing Fresh Manna—to help believers grow and mature in Christ. The goal isn’t perfection overnight; it’s steady growth and transformation through the Word and the Spirit.
Truth matters—but how we deliver it matters just as much. Truth can come as loving guidance or harsh judgment. Many young believers are already battling the accusing voice of the enemy. When fellow Christians pile on condemnation, some feel like failures and walk away from God. That’s why God’s Word says,
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NLT).
We must not be the ones who push people away from the very grace that saved us. Every believer is at a different place in their journey. Some are in churches that don’t teach much Scripture. Some haven’t found a church yet. Others feel intimidated by the Bible or unsure how God could forgive their past. But God sees them differently. He sees the beginning of something beautiful. “God…will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6 NLT).
Just like that parent who treasured a crayon drawing, God delights in the early steps of His children. He corrects—but always with love, patience, and purpose. And He calls us to do the same.
“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” (Ephesians 4:2 NLT)
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to see others the way You see them—with patience, compassion, and hope. Teach us to be gentle with those who are growing, remembering how much grace You have shown us. Guard our hearts from judgment and fill us with Your love, so we can encourage and restore others with kindness. Help us walk alongside those who are new in their faith, pointing them to You with wisdom and humility. May our words build up, not tear down, and may our lives reflect Your goodness in all we do, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
