Finding Hope in the Most Challenging Seasons: Candace Cameron Bure & Shawn Johnson
Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith
Jesus Calling
4.6 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 18 December 2025
⏱️ 37 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This episode mentions suicide and may be triggering for some listeners.
On today’s episode, we talk with two guests who have navigated both the heights of success and the depths of personal struggle, learning a profound truth: finding hope isn’t just for the good times. Candace Cameron Bure, the beloved actress and author, shares how she rooted her identity not in Hollywood fame, but in her faith, discovering her true value when the applause stopped. Then, Pastor Shawn Johnson opens up about his lifelong battles with anxiety, depression, and a devastating medical diagnosis, revealing how he found the courage to “kiss the fire” and walk through his hardest seasons with God’s strength.
Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:
Past interview: Anthony Lucia
Upcoming interview: Brenda Lee
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Interview Quotes:
“I really started digging deeply into the Word of God and understanding that my identity isn’t in my occupation, who I know, or how much money I have. My identity is rooted in Christ, that I am the daughter of the King. My purpose is to glorify God in all that I do.” - Candace Cameron Bure
“There was always a hug at the end of Full House and Fuller House, and we always worked through the problems. It was a really great model for so many people that have families that don’t feel safe. This was a family that they could look to for that.” - Candace Cameron Bure
“My joy comes from the Lord and the goodness that He gives me and having hope in Him for eternity. And through that joy, He gives me my strength to persevere each day, to endure every day, to take another step, to be able to breathe deeply. God calls us to walk with Him, and you can’t get to know someone if you don’t spend time with them.” - Candace Cameron Bure
“As a working woman, there are so many days that I can feel overwhelmed. I have to remind myself that my joy doesn’t come from the circumstances around me, but from the Lord. He gives me the strength to persevere, endure, and take another step each day.” - Candace Cameron Bure
“I started to realize the more I would be willing to talk about my real struggles, the more people felt like, Oh my gosh, me too. If that guy can admit he struggles, then I could too.“ - Shawn Johnson
“We’re gonna kiss this fire and walk away whistling. That phrase ‘kiss the fire’ just sort of became almost like a mantra for me. I didn’t talk to anyone else about it, but I would remind myself daily that, I’m not going to give up. I’m not going to quit. I’m not going to stop trusting God, although part of me wants to. I’m not gonna stop believing that He has a plan for my future. I’m not going to stop trying to do the things I think He’s called me to do.” - Shawn Johnson
“I work out a lot, and remind myself every day that none of us know how long we’re going to live. And so today I’m going to be a really good dad to my three boys. I’m going to be a good husband to my wife. I’ll try to be a great pastor this week, a good friend.” - Shawn Johnson
“A daily devotion is so important because life’s already hard enough, and we need to constantly be reminded that God is with us and that God is working and that God has a plan even when we can’t see it and don’t understand it.” - Shawn Johnson
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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!
Audio Episodes: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7
Bonus Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw
Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C
Peace for Everyday Life: https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj
Peace in Uncertain Times: https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u
What’s Good? https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj
Enneagram: https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This Christmas season, you can help deliver hope and joy to families across America. |
| 0:05.0 | When you give to focus on the family, you help save Christian marriages, spiritually equipped |
| 0:09.3 | parents, help women feel equipped and supported to choose life and serve kids in foster care. |
| 0:15.0 | And right now, your dollars go twice as far. Every gift between now and December 31st |
| 0:20.0 | will be matched dollar for dollar up to one |
| 0:22.6 | million dollars. $60 can help bring biblical tools and practical support to families who |
| 0:28.0 | desperately need it. Give now and double your impact at focus on the family.com slash hope and |
| 0:33.6 | joy. Help deliver hope and joy today. Life Audio. This episode mentioned suicide |
| 0:43.3 | and may be triggering for some listeners. Who's ready for Christmas? With rocking around the |
| 0:51.8 | Christmas tree as your ultimate festive companion, you can jingle and mingle in the new old-fashioned way. |
| 0:58.0 | Whether you're swaying at the Christmas party hop or cuddling under the mistletoe, this vibrant guide promises heaps of holly jolly fun. |
| 1:05.5 | With everything from Christmas carol lyrics to food and drink recipes, decorating ideas and holiday trivia, rocking around the |
| 1:12.4 | Christmas tree has all the feels, fun, and festivities you'd love about the season. It's the perfect |
| 1:17.5 | gift for the Christmas enthusiast in your life or a groovy treat just for you. So why wait? Grab |
| 1:23.4 | rocking around the Christmas tree and let the Christmas spirit ring. |
| 1:48.7 | I really started digging deeply into the Word of God and understanding that my identity isn't in what I do, my occupation, or who I know, or how much money I have. |
| 1:54.9 | My identity is rooted in Christ, that I am the daughter of the king. |
| 1:58.4 | Welcome to the Jesus Calling podcast. |
| 2:01.3 | On today's episode, we talked with two guests who have navigated both the heights of success and the depths of personal struggle, learning a profound |
| 2:06.5 | truth. Finding hope isn't just for the good times. Candace Cameron Bure, the beloved actress |
| 2:12.7 | and author, shares how she rooted her identity not in Hollywood fame, but in her faith, discovering her true |
| 2:19.2 | value when the applause stopped. Then, Pastor Sean Johnson opens up about his lifelong battles |
... |
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