The Bobby Bones Show

Episode: Steven Curtis Chapman: Learning To Hobble Well
Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Premiere Networks

Overview

In this profound and heartfelt episode, Bobby Bones is joined by legendary Christian singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman to explore the depths of faith, grief, healing, and resilience. Through personal stories—including the loss of his daughter Maria—Chapman reflects on what it means to “hobble well” through life’s deepest wounds while holding onto faith. The conversation delves into childhood experiences, wrestling with God, the power of honesty, and the ongoing journey of hope and service.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Meaning of Faith in Suffering (01:25–05:18)

• Bobby opens by asking Steven: “Beyond all the awards, what does faith mean to you today?”
• Steven’s Response: Faith, above all, is survival. In a troubled world, faith is the only way I know to survive. “I don’t know any other way, certainly from my own experience... apart from faith in a God who we have experienced, to be with us in those places and sustain us through that.” (01:38)
• He is currently revisiting his album “Speechless,” reflecting on its themes and the astonishment at God’s goodness, even through pain.

2. Childhood, Family Transformation, and the "Knocking" (05:18–15:38)

• Chapman recounts a pivotal moment at age seven, witnessing his parents’ transformation through faith.

  • “I just saw a transformation in my own home... when the fights would start... my dad would stop and say: ‘Hey, wait a minute, we gotta pray.’” (05:31)
  • Profound realization of faith when his pastor quoted Revelation: “Jesus says, ‘I stand at the door and knock.’” Chapman sensed Jesus knocking on his heart, cementing the start of his personal faith journey.

• The group discusses how “knocking” (God’s invitation) can appear through questions in children—a theme repeated with family anecdotes. Chapman shares the story of his daughter Maria expressing childlike faith before her tragic death.

  “She was five, getting ready for school. She said, ‘I want to go to God's big house. Can I go?’” (11:14)

• The panel reflects on how God uses curiosity—especially in children—to draw people to Himself.

3. The Power of Questions & Honest Dialogue (15:49–20:29)

• The group explores how children naturally engage with God through questions, and how adults often hesitate out of pride.
• Chapman:

  “God is always knocking... if we just can have a childlikeness enough and humility to hear and listen and receive what He’s saying.” (19:54)

• Emphasis that God does not call believers to be the “fourth member of the Trinity”—convincing or fixing people is not our job; being present and curious is.

4. Grief, Honest Lament, and the Psalms (21:02–30:23)

• Bobby asks if God ever felt far in the aftermath of Maria’s passing.
• Chapman’s deep dive into the Psalms revealed God’s invitation for honesty: not just joy, but lament, doubt, and raw emotion.
  • “You get all of that, and then there’s this resolution... ‘Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Hope in God.’ It’s like the psalmist is pounding on his own chest: ‘Come on, heart, beat!’” (22:51)
• The Psalms gave words to his grief. Chapman remembered:

  “At the hospital... it just felt like a black hole of despair... all that would come to mind is, ‘Blessed be Your name. You give and you take away.’” (25:28)

5. Healing as a Lifelong "Hobble" (30:23–37:21)

• Chapman’s son Caleb described their family’s journey as “hobbling well.”
  • “We have been crippled by this. Full healing... is not going to come until we see Jesus... Verses like 'Jesus wept' became so powerful to me.” (31:46)
• They founded Maria’s Big House of Hope in China, caring for orphans in their daughter’s memory. Even such beauty carries sadness:
  • “Selfishly, if God gave me the choice... I just would take my daughter back if I had the option. So you carry... that’s the hobble.” (36:11)
• Healing is already and not-yet: there are scars, laughter returns, but the limp remains.

6. The Importance of Community and Sharing the Burden (37:02–43:00)

• Bobby and Steven stress “we’re not supposed to do this alone.”
• Chapman addresses listeners carrying grief:

  “One of the great lies of the enemy... is: you are alone, you’re the only person who’s ever hurt this way.” (37:51)

  • Offers the comfort of shared experience: “Let me walk through this with you and tell you all that I’ve learned to be true—don’t lose heart.”
• He shares a metaphor of a horse restraining itself—God longs to charge in and rescue, but for reasons we may not understand, sometimes God’s rescue feels restrained.

7. Trust, Fatherhood, and the Necessity of Trials (43:00–46:17)

• Panel discusses parallels with fatherhood—God permits us to “stumble but not fall.”
• Chapman and others reflect on James 1, embracing trials for the maturity they produce.

  “It’s kindness, and I understand that as a father, but as a son I didn’t get it. When it’s happening to me, I’m like, ‘God, why?’... Trust me, son, I know what I’m doing.” (44:12–45:40)

8. Stewarding Scars, Legacy, and Moving Forward (46:18–49:54)

• Chapman shares about his and Mary Beth’s new book “Still Here”—not as a perfect marriage guide, but a testimony to God’s faithfulness through failings.
  • “Our book is two pages: we screwed it up, and God’s faithful.” (47:55)
• He requests prayer: for wisdom to “steward this season well,” enjoying grandchildren, continuing their foundation Show Hope, and embracing joy and service despite scars.

9. Closing Blessing and Final Thoughts (49:57–52:12)

• The show ends with an earnest prayer for Chapman, his family, the new book, their grandkids, and Show Hope’s ongoing mission.
• Co-host offers gratitude and honor:
  • “There’s not many fathers that are still here. Not many people who’ve walked with a hobble and kept the faith, fought the fight, and finished the race... I honor you for the longevity and the humility and meekness of your life.” (51:20–51:56)

Memorable Quotes

• Steven Curtis Chapman:
  • “Faith, first word that comes to mind... is survival.” (01:38)
  • “God is always knocking... if we just can have a childlikeness enough and humility.” (19:54)
  • “At the hospital... it just felt like a black hole of despair. All that would come to mind is, ‘Blessed be your name. You give and you take away.’” (25:28)
  • “We hobble, but I think we hobble well.” (31:46; 43:12)
  • “Selfishly... I just would take my daughter back if I had the option. That’s the hobble. You hobble with that reality.” (36:11)
  • “One of the great lies of the enemy... is: you are alone. You are the only person who has ever hurt this way.” (37:51)
• Co-host:
  • “God is close to the brokenhearted... and He loves us enough to let us face trials of many kinds.” (44:03)

Notable Timestamps of Key Segments

• 01:25 — Faith as survival
• 05:31 — Childhood family transformation and the “knocking”
• 11:14 — Maria’s Big House story
• 19:54 — God as always knocking, the value of childlike humility
• 22:51 — Honest lament and the Psalms
• 25:28 — Grief at the hospital and “Blessed be Your Name”
• 31:46 & 43:12 — “Hobbling well” through pain
• 37:51 — Comforting those grieving
• 44:12–45:40 — Fatherhood, hard lessons, and trusting God
• 47:55 — On writing their “Still Here” book
• 49:57 — Closing prayer and blessing

Tone & Language

The conversation is gentle but unflinching, deeply compassionate, earthy, and honest. Humor and sincerity interweave as Chapman and the hosts normalize the struggle, embrace the mystery, and point repeatedly to God’s sustaining presence.

Final Takeaway

To “hobble well” is not to escape pain or hide scars, but to move forward—imperfectly but faithfully—trusting God’s goodness, honesty in lament, and the healing power of love and community.