Followed By Mercy

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your best friends stage an intervention at a Shoney’s to tell you that you’re being too mean to your fiancée? For W. Austin Gardner, that conversation 52 years ago was the start of a lifetime spent learning that "man-ing up" has everything to do with tenderness and nothing to do with toughness. In this candid and soul-stirring session, Austin pulls back...

Send us Fan Mail Description: Most people think a good marriage is about being "fair," but Austin Gardner says fairness is the enemy of a great one. After 52 years of marriage, four kids, and a lifetime of ministry, Austin shares why the best marriages don’t keep receipts. In this episode, he breaks down why love is a sacrifice (not a scorecard), why you should always make the first move...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode of Followed by Mercy , Austin Gardner explores the profound mystery of Ephesians 4:20: "But ye have not so learned Christ." Most of us have learned doctrine, behavior, and religion, but have we "learned Christ"? Austin challenges the idea that we are "generators" of our own spiritual power. Instead, he invites us to see ourselves as...

Send us Fan Mail "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." In this episode, Austin Gardner explores the often-forgotten practice of speaking biblical blessings. Whether you are a parent tucking your children in at night, a leader heading into a boardroom, or a spouse looking to strengthen your marriage, your words have the ability to create environments of growth or fear. Austin s...

Send us Fan Mail "Grace without truth lead to compromise. Truth without grace leads to harshness." Today, Austin Gardner dives into one of the biggest tensions in ministry: the fear that grace makes us weak on sin. Austin shares personal stories and biblical insights on why blessing is actually the key to transformation. If you've ever felt like the church was more interested in pun...

Send us Fan Mail Throughout church history, the greatest struggle has been the tension between grace and performance. Today, Austin Gardner addresses the fear many of us have: If I tell people they are loved unconditionally, won't they stop doing right? Austin shares his personal journey of moving away from a "steeped legalism" that crushed people under expectations, toward a biblic...

Send us Fan Mail What is the difference between a contract and a covenant? And why does it matter for your spiritual life? Today, Austin Gardner takes us through a deep dive into the types of blessings found in the Bible. Austin shares honestly about his 71 years of life, his battle with cancer, and the unwavering support of his wife, Betty. He moves beyond "sins of omission" and perform...

Send us Fan Mail Is your spiritual language defined by Thanksgiving or "fussing"? Today, Austin Gardner dives into the power of biblical blessing. He shares a personal story from his youth about a woman named Gail who used the "language of blessing" to impact an entire youth group, and how that same grace is available to you today. Austin walks through the entire arc of Scriptu...

Send us Fan Mail Is God a distant judge or a Father who delights in you? Today, Austin Gardner challenges the idea that blessings are only about money or comfort. Instead, he points us to the profound, life-altering blessings of God’s guidance, courage, protection, and restoration. Austin shares how his own heart was transformed from being "rigid and hard" to understanding the sweetness...

Send us Fan Mail What comes to your mind when you think about God? If it’s a judge or a taskmaster, it’s going to shape your entire life. Today, Austin Gardner dives into Ephesians 3:16-19 to show us a different picture. Austin shares his personal journey of moving from a "judging" view of God to experiencing a Father who strengthens us from the inside out. We talk about the "breath...

Send us Fan Mail We often think of God as a judge waiting for us to mess up, but the New Testament tells a different story. In today’s episode, Austin Gardner walks through the beautiful "benedictions" of the New Testament to reveal the heart of a Father who desires good for His children. Austin shares personally about finding supernatural peace during his battle with cancer and how you...

Send us Fan Mail "The greatest blessing isn't material; it's the living God walking with you." In today’s episode, Austin Gardner takes us into Numbers 6 to examine the "Priestly Blessing." For many, the idea of "blessing" feels like prosperity gospel talk—but Austin shows that God authorized His leaders to speak life, protection, and favor over His people....

Send us Fan Mail “God is not a boss watching your every mistake; He is a Father who loves to hear you talk.” After five decades of missionary work and pastoral leadership, Austin Gardner found himself in the fight of his life against Stage 4 cancer. But the greatest miracle wasn't just physical survival—it was a radical change of mind about who God is. In this episode, Austin pulls back the c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Austin Gardner shares a personal revelation from his morning Bible study that challenged his 50+ years of ministry. Moving from the Old Testament priesthood to our role as a "royal priesthood," Austin explains why our words are the primary way God releases grace into the world today. If you’ve felt the weight of performance or the sting of religious crit...

Send us Fan Mail Ever felt a little "weird" asking God for something He already knows you need? You’re not alone. In this episode, W. Austin Gardner dives into a question that hits every believer: If God knows our thoughts before we speak (Psalm 139), why bother praying out loud? Discover why prayer isn't about giving God information—it's about intimacy. From the "movement...

Send us Fan Mail "But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." — Psalm 3:3 What do you do when you’ve lost it all? When your family, your reputation, and your sense of worth are gone? Today, Austin Gardner takes us to the wilderness where King David was running for his life. David wasn't just a victim; he was a man who knew his own failures intim...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like God loves you because He has to, but you’re not sure He actually likes you? In this episode, Austin Gardner breaks down Ephesians 3 in plain language—or what he calls "Tennessee hillbilly." We dive into why it’s so hard to believe we’re truly loved, especially when life gets messy or we feel like we haven't performed well enough. Austin explores the t...

Send us Fan Mail "There’s not a moment I’m not aware I have Pompe." Kelly Canfield joins Austin Gardner one last time to share the raw reality of living with a terminal, progressive disease. From the "stack of books" feeling on her chest to the mental weight Robert carries as a husband and father, this episode is a masterclass in finding purpose when life doesn't look like...

Send us Fan Mail What is it like to be a parent when your body is failing and your children are facing the same diagnosis? Robert and Kelly Canfield join Austin Gardner for a powerful discussion on parenting through Pompe Disease. Highlights: The Struggle of a Mama: Kelly shares the vulnerability of being unable to hold her babies like a "regular" mom and the mobility issues that changed...

Send us Fan Mail What do you do when your greatest fear becomes your daily reality? Robert and Kelly Canfield return to the podcast to share the next chapter of their journey with Pompe disease—the moment they realized their daughters would also face this lifelong battle. In this episode, Austin Gardner talks with the Canfields about: The Physical Toll: The reality of muscle biopsies and ongoing i...

Send us Fan Mail The future can feel like a storm you can’t outdrive. We explore how daily trust carries us through diagnoses, deferred dreams, and the quiet griefs that come with chronic illness . Robert and Kelly share practical ways to fight self-pity, see grace in limits , and find good days in a world that is not yet whole. We open a window into their world as they face Pompe disease, recalib...

Send us Fan Mail A slow climb up the stairs can tell a bigger story. When Kelli Canfield began struggling with simple movements after childbirth, the signs pointed to something more than fatigue. What followed was years of being dismissed by doctors, self-doubt, and a search for answers that finally led to a diagnosis: Pompe disease. In this episode, Robert and Kelli sit down with W. Austin Gardne...

Send us Fan Mail "Ever feel like an outsider? In this morning’s devotional, Austin Gardner dives into the surprising beauty of Leviticus 14. Most people skip the rituals of the Old Testament, but the story of the 'Two Birds' reveals a profound truth about God's heart: He doesn't wait for the 'unclean' to come to Him—He moves toward the excluded. Austin breaks dow...

Send us Fan Mail "I didn't realize how much I had fallen into performance-driven Christianity—doing things to earn God's favor when He already favored me." In this episode, Austin Gardner takes us through the most "horrific" time of his life—recovering from a near-fatal bout of COVID only to be met with five new tumors and the abandonment of friends. Yet, in the middl...

Send us Fan Mail "I want to challenge you to think about how much God loves you today." Before we begin our 5-day series on Monday, Austin Gardner shares a heart-to-heart message on the theology of suffering and the power of God's unconditional love. If you’ve ever felt broken by your circumstances or wondered if God has "accidents," this episode is for you. Highlights: Th...