When Grace Became Real: A Story of Freedom and Sonship

Hi, I'm Mike Hadinger, and my wife Ashley and I lead Delta Church together.

My personal testimony would go like this: God’s grace is enough for me, and I am free to depend on it as my identity.

I grew up in a Christian home, the son of pastors and then missionaries. I was trained to follow God from the beginning and have known him personally and communally since a child. ‘The ministry’ was our life. I think I prayed a special prayer when I was 5 or 6 inviting Jesus into my heart, and I never really ‘turned my back’ on God or faith at any point.

In college, I felt like I did not really have (or need?) a testimony, or if I did it was that God gave me a parachute right when I jumped out the plane (womb) and I just got to float my way through life. No crashes, no miraculous healings or restorations. Just chillin with God, I guess.

Then, my 20s happened. I realized that I actually had real brokenness inside me that I had always covered or justified or adapted to.

Part of that inner narrative told me God’s attitude toward me rose and fell based on my daily performance: how well I read my Bible and prayed and how well I atoned for my sins. I knew God was loving, but subconsciously sensed Him close to correct and discipline in disappointment rather than close in a Father’s consistent approval and pride. God so kindly and slowly revealed those parts in me, and it reflected how he had graciously carried on with me until the time was right for some healing.

I began to learn what the gospel, and freedom, and grace, and mercy, really (like really actually in real life for real) meant.

My life has never been the same since Grace became real. My life calling is not to avoid every mistake but to live a life of power, authority, joy, freedom, grace, as a song of praise to Him. Whatever I do and wherever I am, I can be a fountain of life to those around me, the overflow of a grateful son. Yeah, still chillin, but each day life becomes more of an adventure. I have more of a purpose for living and working and resting and doing fun stuff. More and more I see how the story of the Bible makes every part of life more interesting and more purposeful. I hope I can reflect that to those around me!

Thank's for reading my story!

Mike