Followed By Mercy

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https://waustingardner.com/the-big-leap-of-faith-believing-god-loves-you-exactly-as-you-are/

W. Austin Gardner
Podcast: followedbymercy.buzzsprout.com
https://waustingardner.com/book-page/

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Are you waiting until your life is "perfect" before you finally approach God? In this episode, we talk about the "Internal Delay"—the feeling that we have to clean ourselves up before we are worthy of peace.

The truth is, the greatest leap of faith isn’t just believing God exists; it’s believing He loves you exactly as you are, right in the middle of your mess.

What we cover in this episode:

• The "Performance Trap" in our spiritual lives.
• Why Jesus spent His time with "messy" people.
• How to take the "Big Leap" into grace.

Read the full Hub Article here:
https://waustingardner.com/the-big-leap-of-faith-believing-god-loves-you-exactly-as-you-are/

#Faith #Grace #PersonalDevelopment #WAustinGardner #ChristianLeadership

My Books: https://waustingardner.com/book-page/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/austin-gardner
Hub Article: https://waustingardner.com/the-big-leap-of-faith-believing-god-loves-you-exactly-as-you-are/

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Most people don’t become Pharisees because they stop loving God.
They become Pharisees because they love Him deeply and are afraid of losing Him.

This episode begins with the prayer of Psalm 139:23–24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart.” It is a confession, not an accusation. I share how my own journey into a Pharisee spirit did not start with rebellion or pride, but with devotion. A sincere hunger to please God slowly turned into pressure to perform. Tenderness gave way to control. Grace was still talked about, but fear quietly took over.

I talk honestly about how peer pressure, spiritual comparison, and the desire to belong to the serious crowd can harden a heart without us even noticing. How we start drawing lines God never asked us to draw. How we defend doctrine more than we love people. How exhaustion replaces joy when performance replaces relationship.

The tragedy of the Pharisee is not that he loved God too much.
It is that he did not believe God loved him.

This is not a message of condemnation. It is an invitation back to rest. Back to union. Back to living from God instead of for God. When we finally believe we are already loved, something in us relaxes. We stop striving, comparing, and policing. And real holiness begins to grow again, not out of fear, but out of love.

If you have ever felt your faith grow dry, your prayers mechanical, or your joy fade while trying to be faithful, this conversation is for you. I am not sharing from a place of arrival, but from the middle of my own journey. And maybe, in some way, it is yours too.

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Ever wake up soul tired? Not physically exhausted, but drained deep inside. You love God. You’re trying to do what’s right. And yet the joy feels gone, like your strength has quietly leaked away.

In this episode, we take a fresh look at one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible: “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Most of us were taught that joy is something we have to work up. Pray harder. Sing louder. Try to feel happier. But that isn’t what Scripture says. In Nehemiah 8, the people were weeping under conviction, and God interrupted their sorrow with grace. He didn’t demand more effort. He invited them to rest, to feast, and to receive His joy.

We explore the life-changing truth that the joy of the Lord is not you rejoicing in God, but God rejoicing over you. Drawing from Nehemiah 8, Zephaniah 3:17, Romans 8:31, John 15:11, Psalm 16:11, and Hebrews 12:2, this conversation reframes joy as confidence in God’s favor, not emotional positivity or spiritual performance. Sorrow drains strength. Joy releases it. And that joy is rooted in grace, not how well you’re doing.

This episode speaks honestly about illness, aging, loss, and long seasons where trying harder hasn’t made life easier. We talk about how Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, and how that same joy steadies us in suffering without denying the pain. Joy doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It means trusting God’s love right in the middle of the hurt.

If you’re tired of faking happy, worn out from striving, or quietly wondering where your strength went, this episode offers permission to stop performing and start receiving. God delights in you. He sings over you. And His joy is strong enough to carry you.

Listen, rest, and let His joy be your strength.

#JoyOfTheLord #Nehemiah8 #ChristianEncouragement #GraceNotWorks #SoulTired #SpiritualExhaustion #GodsGrace #GodRejoicesOverYou #FaithAndRest #ChristianPodcast #BibleTeaching #FollowedByMercy

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What if the heaviness you feel isn’t failure at all, but a sign you’ve been carrying a burden God never asked you to lift?

In this episode, we talk honestly about spiritual exhaustion. Not the kind that comes from rebellion, but the kind that settles in on sincere believers who love God and keep trying harder to please Him. We look at how “try harder” faith sneaks in quietly, how devotion turns into pressure, and why so many faithful people feel worn down instead of free.

From Ephesians 2, we’re reminded that we are God’s workmanship, not His unfinished project. From Psalm 147, we hear that the Lord takes pleasure in those who hope in His mercy, not those who hustle for approval. Obedience begins to change shape when you realize you already have God’s smile. It becomes a response to love, not a performance to earn it.

We also talk candidly about aging, illness, discouragement, and that constant sense of never feeling like you’ve done enough. And we name a better way forward. Rest is not a reward for the spiritually elite. It is the foundation of real growth. Transformation happens in safety, not fear.

If your soul feels tired, consider this your permission to stop performing. You don’t need to hide. You don’t need to hustle. You can return, because the door is open and the Father is kind.

#GraceOverGrind #GodsMercy #ChristianEncouragement #FaithAndRest #SpiritualBurnout #GraceNotWorks #RestInGod #HopeInMercy #WearyBelievers #FollowedByMercy

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summary

• In this engaging sermon, Austin Gardner delves into Ephesians chapter two, emphasizing the importance of remembering our past and recognizing the transformative power of Christ in our lives. He highlights how Christians often forget their former state of being without Christ, which can lead to a sense of superiority over others. Gardner stresses that salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our own good works, and encourages listeners to reflect on their journey from being lost to being found in Christ. He passionately reminds the congregation that Jesus is our peace, bridging the gap between God and humanity, and calls for unity among believers, regardless of their backgrounds or pasts.

• Throughout the sermon, Gardner shares personal anecdotes, including the transformation of his father from a troubled past to a life of faith, illustrating the profound change that comes from accepting Christ. He urges the church to embrace a spirit of love and acceptance, rather than judgment, and to remember that all believers are united in their need for grace. Ultimately, the message is one of hope, reconciliation, and the centrality of Jesus in the life of every believer.

keywords

Ephesians, peace, unity, salvation, grace, Jesus, church, transformation, Christian faith, remembrance

takeaways

• We often forget who we were before Christ.
• Salvation is a gift from God, not our own doing.
• Jesus is our peace, bridging the gap between God and us.
• Unity in the church is essential; we are all one in Christ.
• Remembering our past helps us to love and accept others.

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summary

• In this episode, Austin Gardner delves into Ephesians 2:11 and emphasizes the importance of remembering our past before coming to faith in Jesus. He highlights that this remembrance is not about guilt but about gratitude for the transformation that Jesus brings into our lives. Gardner explains how, prior to Christ, we were without hope and without God, illustrating the barriers that existed between humanity and the divine. He paints a vivid picture of the temple's structure, showing how Jesus broke down these barriers, allowing everyone access to God through His sacrifice.
• 
  
• Gardner further elaborates on the concept of peace, stating that Jesus is not just a feeling but a person who reconciles us to God. He reassures listeners that they are no longer strangers or foreigners but part of God's family, emphasizing the unconditional love and acceptance that comes through faith in Christ. The message culminates in a call to remember that it is God who seeks us out, reinforcing the idea that our relationship with Him is a gift, not something we earn through our actions.

keywords

Ephesians 2, Jesus, peace, reconciliation, faith, gratitude, God’s love, Christian message, spiritual growth, hope

takeaways

• Remembering is about gratitude, not guilt.
• Jesus opened the way for everyone to approach God.
• We are no longer strangers; we belong to God's family.
• Peace is not a feeling; it's a person—Jesus.
• God has always been the one seeking us.

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summary

In this episode, Austin Gardner delves into Ephesians, particularly focusing on the themes of grace and the ministry given to the Apostle Paul. He emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, not based on human works, and highlights the importance of understanding our roles in ministry as servants to others. Gardner shares how Paul, despite being imprisoned, viewed his situation positively, seeing himself as a 'prisoner of Jesus Christ' rather than a victim. This perspective encourages listeners to recognize their purpose in serving God and others, regardless of their circumstances.

Gardner further explores the concept of boldness and access to God through faith in Jesus Christ. He reassures listeners that they can approach God with confidence, sharing their hearts openly without fear. He illustrates this idea with personal anecdotes, emphasizing that even in moments of weakness, believers can rely on the strength of Jesus' faith. The episode concludes with a call to trust in God's presence and to communicate openly with Him, encouraging listeners to expect great things from their relationship with God.

keywords

Ephesians, grace, Apostle Paul, ministry, boldness, access to God, faith, confidence, Christian encouragement

takeaways

• It is all grace; God is doing everything.
• We have a ministry to help others, not for ourselves.
• You can speak to God with boldness and confidence.

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We explore Jeremiah 9:24 and the joy of knowing God who delights in lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness. We move from performance to relationship and show how mercy and justice meet in Jesus and reshape daily life.

• glorying in knowing God over boasting in works
• lovingkindness as loyal, active covenant love
• judgment as setting things right for the vulnerable
• righteousness as restored relationship and wholeness
• the cross as justice satisfied and mercy poured out
• Micah 6:8 as a lived response: do justly, love mercy, walk humbly
• practical encouragement to meditate on God’s delight and act from it

Glory in knowing God. Glory in knowing God. And when you know God, know that He is a God of love, loving kindness, mercy.

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Fear creeps in fastest when the room goes quiet. That’s where our story begins: sickness in the body, slander in the air, and a mind racing in the dark. We open up about stage four cancer, sleepless drives, and the ache of betrayal and then trace the turning point that changed everything. The shift didn’t comes from rethinking our inner script through the lens of Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd is not a funeral line; it’s a survival line for anyone walking through real danger.

We unpack how negative self-talk hijacks our days, why identity must lead before confession, and how David found steady peace in a cave while enemies gathered. Green pastures and still waters become the blueprint for how God provides what we need in forms we can receive. Paths of righteousness for his name’s sake reframes guidance in crisis, and the banquet table in the presence of enemies shows how joy can exist right in the middle of opposition. We also explore God’s self-revealed character merciful, gracious, slow to anger and why that matters when shame bows your head.

You’ll hear practical ways to renew your mind: memorizing Psalm 23, naming the lies, replacing them with truth, and practicing gratitude until it reshapes reflexes. We talk about the lifter of my head, no condemnation for those in Christ, and how goodness and mercy have followed us farther than we realized. If your thoughts have been a battlefield, this conversation offers language, tools, and hope to find calm in the storm.

If this encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review to help more listeners find these conversations. What line from Psalm 23 anchors you most right now?

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Walls fall when grace walks in. We open Ephesians and follow Paul’s path from distance to nearness, tracing how Jesus brings both Jew and Gentile into one family with full access to the Father by one Spirit. No seniority, no special pass—just the same door for everyone. As we unpack the early church’s shift from a mostly Jewish movement to a global mission, we confront the tensions that come with growth and the simple answer that heals them: everyone stands on the same ground of mercy.

Together we explore the power of “in Christ” as the center of Christian life. Not in works, not in rule-keeping, not in giving or membership, but in Christ we pray, belong, and endure. That identity doesn’t float in the clouds; it rewires daily choices. When old festivals and social circles no longer fit, God names us fellow citizens and members of his household. We become living stones in a holy temple with Jesus as the cornerstone, fitted together as a habitation of God through the Spirit. That’s more than theology—it’s comfort for tired hearts and courage for a divided world.

You’ll also hear field stories that bring the text to life, a Christmas-tinted reminder of Emmanuel—God with us—and a practical look at how the Spirit unites unlikely people into a beautiful whole. We close with an invitation to pray for and support Taking the Light and Peru Ministries, partnering in the work God is building. If this conversation stirred hope or clarity for you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a rating or review so others can find it.

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