Chasing God, Not Performance: A Father-Son Chat About Identity

Followed By Mercy

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What if everything you believed about your spiritual worth was built on a misunderstanding? That inner critic telling you “you’re not enough” isn’t just mistaken, it’s denying the truth Christ has already spoken.

In this deeply personal episode of Followed by Mercy, Austin Gardner sits down with his son, David, a missionary who has spent twenty years in Peru, to discuss the surprising and relentless mercy of God. David shares powerful stories of God’s provision from unexpected vehicles to last-minute financial help during furlough, which have carried his family through every season.

At the heart of their conversation is the freeing message of Colossians: our identity isn’t something we earn by doing enough for God. It’s a gift we receive. The commands in Colossians 3 to “seek those things which are above” aren’t a weight or an obligation—they’re the natural response to understanding that we are already loved, already forgiven, already complete in Christ.

Are you tired of performance-based religion rules or the ache of feeling “not enough”? If so, you’ll find hope here. The Christian life isn’t about striving to win God’s favor; it’s about living each day in the security that God is already delighted in you. Join Austin and David for a conversation that’s honest, practical, and soaked in the goodness of God’s grace.

Connect with David on social media @PeruMinistry to learn more about his family’s work and how you can support their ministry in Peru.

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Chapters

1. Welcome and Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Goodness and Mercy Following David (00:01:20)

3. Identity Crisis: Not Feeling Enough (00:04:18)

4. Complete in Christ: Colossians Deep Dive (00:08:07)

5. Seeking Him Naturally, Not By Command (00:12:16)

6. Rejoicing in Your Identity in Christ (00:16:36)