Followed By Mercy

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Are you on a spiritual treadmill? For years, Austin Gardner has taught and led, yet he’s found himself struggling with the same question many of us face: Am I a son or a servant?

In this episode, Austin dives into the identity crisis that keeps many Christians in a state of burnout and resentment. Using the stories of Martha and Mary, the Prodigal Son’s older brother, and David’s peace in Psalm 23, Austin explains why God isn't looking for employees—He’s looking for children.

Learn how to shift your mindset from "earning merit" to "leading from rest," and discover why "Thank you" is the most important language you can speak.

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What happens when you survive one miracle, only to be hit by a second disaster?

W. Austin Gardner shares the second chapter of his survival story. After the "rough" process of learning to stand and walk again following COVID-19, he was hit with a diagnosis of five tumors in his abdomen.

Austin doesn't hold back on the "TMI" details—the physical exhaustion, the side effects of immunotherapy, and the struggle to not "play the victim." If you’ve ever griped against God or felt like you were at the end of your rope, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The physical humiliations of recovery at 65 years old.
• Why Christian fellowship is the "sweetest thing" during a crisis.
• The emotional toll of being put on "palliative care."
• How being alone leads to finding that God is all you need.

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"I hadn’t had a bath in 30 days. I stank to high heaven. I couldn't even stand up in the shower."

In this incredibly raw and unfiltered episode, W. Austin Gardner shares the "messy" side of his miraculous recovery from a medically induced coma and a 30-day hospital battle with COVID-19.

From his son’s emergency flight out of a locked-down Peru to the humbling moment he had to be physically lifted by his son-in-law, Austin doesn't hold back on the realities of physical brokenness. But this isn't a pity party. It’s a masterclass in the Attitude of Gratitude.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The Peru Lockdown: The harrowing story of the Gardner family’s escape from one of the world's most affected countries.
• The Physical Cost: Dealing with the "stench" of a month in a hospital bed and the literal scars of survival.
• The "Two-Step" Secret: How Austin used a simple dream—getting back into the pulpit—to fuel his grueling physical therapy.
• Whining vs. Winning: Why nobody wants to attend your pity party, and how to shift your focus to being "God’s Beloved."

Whether you are battling COVID, cancer, or a season of deep discouragement, Austin’s story is a reminder: Don’t give up. Don’t quit. You are important to God.

Connect with W. Austin Gardner:
🌐 Website: waustingardner.com
📖 Books: Pain to Praise, The Ultimate Guide to a Healthy Marriage
🙌 Mentoring: Society of Mentors

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W. Austin Gardner shares the raw, unfiltered story of his COVID recovery—from a medically induced coma to the realization that "Home" isn't a place, but a person.

"Peace is not a place; it's a Person. Home is not a place; it's a Person."

In this raw and deeply personal episode, W. Austin Gardner shares the final chapter of his harrowing battle with COVID-19—a journey that included nearly a month in a medically induced coma. With his characteristic honesty and wit, Austin recounts the "humiliating but healing" process of learning to walk, talk, and even breathe again at Northside Hospital.

Austin doesn't shy away from the messy reality of recovery, including the "ICU delirium" that led to a shocking conversation with his wife, Betty, and the deep survivor's guilt he felt while mourning his missionary friend, Randy Sterwalt. He offers a powerful tribute to the caregivers who often suffer more than the patients themselves, and describes the sheer joy of that first "homecoming" peach milkshake.

More than just a survival story, this episode is an invitation to stop performing and start resting. Whether you are in a hospital bed or a spiritual wilderness, Austin reminds us that Jesus isn't calling you to a religion of performance, but to a relationship of rest.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The reality of waking up after 30 days in a coma.
• The emotional and mental toll of recovery on a marriage and family.
• Why "hospital brain" is a real thing (and how grace covers the messy moments).
• The life-changing realization that Home is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

Connect with W. Austin Gardner:

• Website: waustingardner.com
• Mentoring: Alignment Ministries
• Social: Follow us for more stories of grace and honest hope.

If this story touched you, please like, share, and invite someone else to listen. God bless you!

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Are you tired of performance-based religion? Austin Gardner explores Ephesians 3, revealing how we have bold access to God as "Daddy." Learn how to stop trusting your own faith and start trusting the "faith of Him" to carry you across the street.

In this session, international keynote speaker Austin Gardner breaks down the revolutionary truth of Ephesians 3:12. Moving beyond performance-based religion, Austin discusses the "Pharaoh Principle" of being a prisoner to your circumstances versus a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Whether you are a ministry leader facing "church hurt," or an individual struggling with a health crisis or past failure, this message provides a roadmap for finding rest. Learn why God doesn't want your groveling—He wants your trust. Austin explores the Hebrew roots of "Abba Father" and why understanding yourself as a son or daughter is the key to leadership development and personal growth.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Identity Shift: Why you are a son, not a servant.
• Faith of Him: Trusting God’s faithfulness over your own performance.
• The Joseph Story: How God turns what was meant for evil into a global ministry.
• Biblical Boldness: Having the confidence to "walk into the throne room like you own the place."

waustingardner.com

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After 52 years of marriage, Austin Gardner has learned one thing: you can't truly love your spouse until you understand how God loves you. In this episode, Austin breaks down why marriage isn't a contract, how to pull the "Johnson grass" of bitterness out of your home, and why God's love is never transactional.

• "You don't know how to love until you know how you're loved."
• In this candid talk, Austin Gardner shares lessons from five decades of marriage with his wife, Betty. He challenges the common "transactional" view of marriage, where we only love when our spouse performs. Instead, Austin points to the "Covenant" of the Bible—a promise that can't be broken.
• In this episode, you’ll hear about:
  • The First Move: Why waiting for your spouse to apologize first is a recipe for failure.
  • Contract vs. Covenant: Why "for better or worse" means more than just a legal agreement.
  • The Johnson Grass of Bitterness: How to pull up old grudges by the roots before they take over your life.
  • God’s "Scream" from Heaven: Understanding that God is well-pleased with you, not because of what you've done, but because of whose you are.
• Tags/Keywords: Christian Marriage, Ministry Leadership, Forgiveness, Marriage Restoration, W. Austin Gardner, Covenant Marriage, Spiritual Growth.

waustingardner.com

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"Austin Gardner shares a deeply personal account of his battle with COVID-19. It wasn’t just a battle for breath; it was a battle with his own mind and a crushing loss of dignity.

Austin recounts the 'humiliating' moments of hospital life—needing help with the simplest tasks and feeling the weight of total vulnerability. But in that weakness, he found a profound truth: God doesn't love us because we are strong; He loves us because we are His.

Tune in for a reminder that no matter how 'messy' your life feels right now, God is pursuing you with a love that never quits."

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"Why in the world is this happening?"

That was the question Austin Gardner was asking from a hospital bed after waking up from a three-week coma. Having lost 70 pounds and his sense of reality, Austin found himself in a battle not just for his physical health, but for his faith.

In this episode, Austin shares the raw details of his recovery from COVID and cancer. From the "funny" therapists who had to teach him how to think again to the surreal dreams of floating under continents, Austin describes the mental and spiritual fog of a drug-induced stupor. Most importantly, he recounts a life-changing encounter with a mysterious woman who challenged him to trade his anger for a testimony of grace.

Whether you are seeking restoration or just need to know you aren’t alone in your pain, this episode is a reminder that God’s love finds us even in our most desperate moments.

Followed By Mercy Podcast
Listen as we explore themes of real grace and honest hope.
Website: https://waustingardner.com
Books: https://waustingardner.com/book-page/

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In Episode 3 of The Austin Gardner Story, Austin shares the most intense part of his journey: being put on a ventilator, placed into a medically induced coma, and losing time he can’t remember. For 21 days, his family feared the worst, while Betty battled COVID at home.

Austin describes the terrifying delirium and nightmares, the confusion of waking up to masked faces and unfamiliar voices, and the physical cost of critical illness—losing strength, losing muscle, and having to rebuild from almost nothing.

This episode carries a simple message: you can live as a victim, or you can choose victory by trusting God in the valley. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.

Full story hub (all parts): https://waustingardner.com/w-austin-gardner/

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Recovery is rarely a straight line. After beating cancer, Austin Gardner found himself in a new valley: COVID-19. Austin talks about the dangers of pride, the physical toll of low oxygen, and why even in our most "difficult" moments, God’s goodness never leaves our side. A must-listen for anyone struggling with a health crisis or family tension during hard times.

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