Followed By Mercy

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What if rest wasn’t about doing less, but about being with the right Teacher? In Matthew 11, Jesus gives the only self-description of His heart in the whole Bible: “I am meek and lowly.” And in the same breath, He invites us to take His yoke and find rest for our souls.

In Jesus’ day, a rabbi’s “yoke” meant his interpretation of the law—a list of rules to follow. But Jesus offers something radically different. His yoke isn’t about religious performance but relationship. He doesn’t pile on more requirements. He invites you closer to Himself.

This conversation explores what it means to trade our exhausting cycle of self-striving for the rest that comes from walking with the One who is gentle and humble in heart. We’ll see how God has always revealed Himself as merciful and gracious—from His encounter with Moses on Sinai, to Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, even the one who would betray Him.
When you live near Jesus, you begin to resemble Him, not by trying harder, but simply by being with Him. Like a child who naturally picks up their parent’s mannerisms, proximity changes you.

If you’re tired of carrying the weight of religion, if harsh images of God have hurt you, or if you’ve been striving to earn what He already gives freely, this episode is an invitation. Discover the heart of Christ, and the freedom of being yoked to the One who is gentle and accessible.

I am joined by Chris Gardner, David Gardner, and Robert Canfield

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Already Home. Dwelling in the Presence of God

Finding our true home in God’s presence changes everything about how we see our lives and our faith. In this final message on Psalm 23, we reflect on David’s profound declaration, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” and what it means for us today.

The Hebrew word for “dwell” means to sit down, abide, and remain permanently. This isn’t about occasional visits to God when life gets hard. It’s about living constantly in His presence. After battles, betrayals, victories, and failures, David learned that his security was never in his throne, army, or public approval. His only true home was God Himself.

The “house of the Lord” is more than a building. It’s a family and a belonging. David wasn’t just talking about heaven; he longed for daily communion with God, to share life with Him face-to-face. While everything in this world is fragile and temporary, God’s love remains steady and unshakable. Eternal life doesn’t start when we die. It’s already begun. God’s presence is not a prize for good behavior. It’s a gift secured by the blood of Christ.

Our confidence rests not in our grip on God, but in His relentless pursuit of us with goodness and mercy. As we conclude this journey through Psalm 23, may you be reminded that you are already home in God’s presence, and His love is chasing you down every day.

Thank you for listening to Followed by Mercy and for sharing it with your friends. The goal isn’t personal success, but that our Father would be known, loved, and admired for who He is and what He is doing.

Check out https://waustingardner.substack.com/p/whats-in-your-eyes-will-shape-what

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Never Alone 

Discovering the Shepherd’s Presence in Psalm 23

The most profound truth about your life is that you are never alone. Today, we step back into Psalm 23, where David, facing some of his darkest moments, anchors his hope in the unshakable presence of the Shepherd.

David doesn’t boast about perfect circumstances or having everything he wants. Instead, he clings to the One who stays when everyone else leaves. From peace to danger, from abundance to scarcity, from life to death, the Shepherd’s presence remains constant.

This conversation will help you:

 • Rest without the pressure to perform, knowing the Shepherd provides still waters and green pastures.
 • Be restored when life drains you, walking confidently through the valley without fear.
 • Feast at a table of abundance even in the presence of enemies.
 • Trust in daily goodness and mercy that pursues you regardless of your past or present struggles.

Most importantly, you’ll see that God’s love is never conditional. He knows you completely, your fears, failures, and dreams, and loves you fully. Knowing God isn’t about book study or theology. It is reality. It is living with a Shepherd who calls you friend.

Whether you’re in a season of green pastures or shadowed valleys, this episode will remind you that you are deeply loved, fiercely pursued, and never alone.

For more encouragement and devotional resources, visit:
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Dwelling With God. The Heartbeat of Scripture

What if the central theme of the Bible isn’t rules, rituals, or religious performance, but God’s relentless desire to be with His people? In this final message on Psalm 23, we explore the breathtaking truth behind David’s words, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

From evening walks in Eden to the tabernacle in the wilderness, from Jesus “pitching His tent” among us to the Spirit living inside believers today, we trace the storyline of a God who keeps moving closer. With over 200 passages declaring His desire to dwell with us, this isn’t a side note—it’s the Bible’s heartbeat.

Discover why God’s presence is not a reward for good behavior, but His passionate pursuit from the beginning of time. Learn why you’re not working to get Him to like you. He already does. And see how this truth can set you free from religious striving into a life of resting in His love.

Whether you feel far from God or simply long for a deeper connection, this episode is a reminder that He has never stopped pursuing you. His goal has always been an impossible closeness in your everyday life, in your mess, your joy, and your pain.

Come and see the beauty of dwelling with the God who has always wanted to dwell with you.

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https://followedbymercy.beehiiv.com

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Episode Title: I Will Fear No Evil

Fear has a way of showing what we truly worship. Whether it’s bridges and airplanes or financial ruin and health scares, our deepest anxieties expose the authority we’ve given to our circumstances. In this episode, we explore Psalm 23:4 and discover that fear is more than an emotion; it’s actually misplaced reverence.

David’s bold words, “I will fear no evil,” weren’t written from a place of comfort. He was in “the valley of the shadow of death,” facing danger and loss. Yet he chose not to let fear rule his heart. His secret was simple: he looked away from the shadows and fixed his eyes on the Shepherd.

The psalm itself tells the story. In the first three verses, David talks about God—“He makes me lie down… He leads me… He restores my soul.” But when the valley comes in verse 4, the words change—“You are with me… Your rod and Your staff…” The darker the path, the closer he draws to God.

This doesn’t mean we ignore reality. Bridges can fall, planes can crash, and diagnoses can break our hearts. But when we fill our minds with who God is instead of replaying our fears, we give Him the authority those fears have stolen from us. And when we remember His perfect, unconditional love, fear begins to fade.

Whatever you’re facing today, you can stand with David and say, “I will fear no evil.” Not because trouble isn’t real, but because your Shepherd is with you every step of the way.

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Are you ready to transform your relationship with food, not just for a short time, but for good? Join us for an honest conversation with Katie, who discovered a new freedom through the carnivore diet after years of battling cravings and confusion.

This is not a diet fad or a one-size-fits-all promise. Katie’s journey is about letting go of food rules and learning what it means to feel truly satisfied and at peace with eating. She says it plainly: fat is your friend. For her, embracing fat was the key to quieting cravings and finally feeling full and steady. The transformation came not from willpower but from giving her body what it needed.

In this episode, we talk through the ups and downs of starting a meat-based diet. Katie shares how to navigate the early days, how to stock your kitchen so you never feel deprived, and how to address the doubts that creep in when friends or family don’t understand your choices. She tackles real questions about fiber, weight, and what happens when you eat differently from everyone around you. Katie’s answers are honest and practical, free from shame or strict rules.

But more than any tip or trick, what shines through is the sense of freedom. Freedom from the old food chatter that used to run her life. Freedom from cravings and crashes. Freedom to be present for the people she loves, with energy to enjoy the best parts of her day. As Katie shares, “All the precious things in my life, good sleep, steady energy, joy with my kids, I’ve found through this new way of eating.”

If you are curious about the carnivore way or just tired of feeling stuck with food, Katie’s encouragement is simple. Try it for a month. See how you feel. You have nothing to lose but old struggles you were never meant to carry.

This episode is for anyone ready for a change, for those hungry for peace with food, and for anyone seeking hope on the other side of the struggle. Listen in and take your first step toward real freedom.

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Psalm 23 is poetry for people in dark places. In this episode, we step into David’s words, “my cup runs over,” and discover what it means to find God’s abundance right in the middle of pain, betrayal, and loss. David didn’t write from a palace. He wrote from a cave, surrounded by threats and uncertainty. Yet he still saw God’s goodness overflowing in his life.

What does it mean for your cup to overflow when everything around you feels empty? We’ll talk about how God’s presence changes our experience of trouble, even when our circumstances don’t change. This isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about learning to receive God’s care—not because we’ve earned it, but because He loves us and comes looking for us when we’re lost.

If you’re weary, hurting, or just wondering where God is right now, you’re not alone. Sit with me for a few minutes and find hope that your cup, no matter how battered, can overflow with God’s mercy, right here in the middle of your mess. You’ll hear stories, honest questions, and a reminder that you are deeply loved, right now, as you are.

Listen in, and let’s discover the freedom of being found by the Shepherd whose goodness and mercy are following you, even in the valley.
I write daily devotionals and podcast five days a week. Links to my writing can be found in the show notes. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned about God because He loves you and cares for you.

https://followedbymercy.beehiiv.com/

https://waustingardner.substack.com

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“Sugar is delicious. You’re lying if you say it’s not,” Katie laughs, and she means it. But for two years now, she hasn’t touched the stuff. Not because of iron willpower, but because life on the carnivore diet has changed her from the inside out emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

For years, mood swings and low moments just felt like her “normal.” Irritability and emotional crashes were part of daily life. It wasn’t until her husband looked her in the eyes and said, “I don’t care what it costs, I got my wife back,” that she realized something profound had shifted.

What changed? It wasn’t therapy, or medication, or another diet. It involved eliminating sugar and plant-based foods, embracing animal proteins and healthy fats, and discovering what her body and brain truly craved. Within months, Katie’s emotional highs and lows gave way to calm. Depression and irritability faded. In her journal, she counted over 30 areas where her health and life improved beyond what she ever hoped for.

In this episode, Katie and Austin discuss the surprising connection between what we eat and how we feel. You’ll hear why leading doctors are now recommending animal-based diets for conditions as diverse as infertility and schizophrenia, and how sugar sneaks into almost everything we eat, even foods that claim to be healthy.

Most of all, Katie shares how newfound emotional stability has opened the door to a deeper spiritual life. When your body isn’t in constant turmoil, it’s so much easier to pray, to parent, to serve, to enjoy God and your family again.

If you’re weary from the emotional rollercoaster, tired of trying to fix your mood with willpower, or just curious about how nutrition shapes mental health, this conversation is for you. Join us as we unpack the practical steps to start, the challenges to expect, and the hope on the other side of food freedom.

Next time, we’ll break down how to implement the carnivore approach, tackle real-life obstacles, and share encouragement for your journey.

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Could eating only meat really change your life? For missionary mom Katie Gardner, the answer was a surprising yes.

After years of feeling unwell, exhausted, battling hormonal chaos, and hearing the phrase “your tests look normal” from doctors who had no real answers, Katie stumbled across a radical idea online: the carnivore diet. At first, it sounded ridiculous. But with nothing left to lose, she took the leap.

Those first three weeks weren’t easy. Doubts and withdrawal symptoms nearly sent her back to her old habits. But then something shifted. Sleep came easily. Energy returned. The mental fog and emotional rollercoaster faded, and the constant preoccupation with food disappeared. Katie found herself not just surviving, but living in the present with her family, freed from cravings, and feeling well for the first time in years.

In this episode, Katie sits down with her father-in-law, podcast host Austin Gardner, a missionary and cancer survivor who has his own reasons for embracing this way of eating. Together, they open up about what it’s like to eat ground beef, eggs, and bacon every day, why butter in your coffee isn’t as weird as it sounds, and how this simple approach brought unexpected healing.

If you’re tired of chasing answers that never seem to help, or if you’re curious about metabolic health and the link between food and faith, you’ll find hope and honesty here. Katie’s story is proof that sometimes the answers come from the most unexpected places.

Listen in for a candid and practical conversation about healing, freedom from food obsession, and how changing your diet can impact not just your body, but your soul.

Next week, join us as we explore how the carnivore diet affects emotional well-being and spiritual life, with stories from others who’ve found freedom on this path.

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Followed by Mercy: The Shepherd Who Never Lets Go

Do you realize that God has been pursuing you from the very start? In this episode, we dive into the final verse of Psalm 23, where David confidently declares, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This isn’t just the happy ending to a famous psalm. It’s the beautiful truth that our spiritual journey is, in fact, God’s pursuit of us from beginning to end.

It’s easy to believe that faith is about chasing after God, trying to measure up, or finding ways to be worthy of His love. But what if the story is really about a Shepherd who has always been after your heart? From walking with Adam in the garden, to living among His people in the tabernacle, to sending Jesus as “God with us,” the whole of Scripture tells us that God’s greatest desire is to be close to us.

Sheep don’t buy shepherds. Shepherds buy sheep. Your salvation, your place in God’s family, doesn’t hinge on how hard you try, but on what Jesus has already done. Psalm 23 leads us through every season—green pastures, dark valleys, feasts in the presence of enemies, and every one, the Shepherd stays close. For those in Christ today, the relationship is even more intimate: God doesn’t just walk with us, He lives in us.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re enough or if you’re truly loved, this conversation is for you. You’ll find there’s no pressure to perform in Psalm 23. There’s only comfort in being led, protected, and loved by a Shepherd who never lets go.

So wherever life finds you today, whether you’re full of faith or full of questions, remember: you are never alone. God loves you right where you are. Will you trust the Shepherd who’s been guiding you all along?

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