The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast: What Do You Do After Your Faith Falls Apart? Featuring Jonathan Pokluda

Release Date: June 24, 2025
Host: CandyRock (Candace Cameron Bure)
Guests: Lev Cameron and Jonathan Pokluda

Introduction: Balancing Life and Faith ([02:32] – [12:13])

The episode kicks off with Candace Cameron Bure and her son Lev Cameron engaging in a heartfelt conversation about balancing personal lives, careers, and faith. They reflect on their own experiences of navigating demanding schedules while maintaining a strong family foundation.

Candace Cameron Bure ([02:36]): "Life is like a roller coaster, but it's better when we go through it together."

Lev shares insights into his past decision to take a decade-long hiatus from acting to prioritize family, emphasizing the importance of being present for their children despite the challenges.

Lev Cameron ([03:08]): "Stepped away from acting to be home with the kids. And at that time, Val was still playing hockey, so he was on the road a lot."

Personal Journeys: Faith, Marriage, and Overcoming Struggles ([12:13] – [28:21])

Candace opens up about her personal journey towards faith and the challenges she faced in her marriage during its early years. She candidly discusses overcoming addictions and finding strength through her relationship with Jesus Christ.

Candace Cameron Bure ([11:03]): "And so year two, she got pregnant. And you know, that was just like, it's... having a baby was that mirror for me. It was like, I am so selfish..."

Lev praises Candace's deep knowledge of scripture and her ability to integrate it seamlessly into daily life, highlighting her role as a spiritual leader within their family and community.

Lev Cameron ([12:18]): "You're leading so many young people... it's incredible. What a testimony."

Deconstructing Faith: Understanding Doubt and Its Implications ([13:07] – [18:17])

The conversation shifts to the concept of deconstruction of faith, a process where individuals reevaluate and often question their religious beliefs. Lev introduces the topic by expressing concerns about the varying definitions and outcomes associated with deconstruction.

Lev Cameron ([13:17]): "When I hear deconstructs, I'm thinking of deconstruction of the church, deconstruction of faith, religion."

Candace elaborates on her own experience with deconstruction, framing it as a natural outcome of doubt and the quest for personal truth. She emphasizes that deconstruction involves stripping away inherited beliefs to rebuild a more authentic faith foundation.

Candace Cameron Bure ([16:13]): "I've been raised in the church... I really came to this place where I have all of these ideologies that were taught to me by people, and I just erased the whiteboard and I said, okay, what is the foundation of what I believe."

Reconstructing Faith: Building on a Solid Foundation ([37:04] – [41:56])

Moving from deconstruction, the discussion focuses on the reconstruction phase—actively rebuilding one's faith on a solid, scripture-based foundation. Candace outlines practical steps for individuals seeking to restore their faith after experiencing doubt.

Candace Cameron Bure ([37:16]): "Find your source of truth. For starters. You've got to find your source of truth. And so I believe it's the scripture, unapologetically, like, I believe the Bible is true."

Lev echoes the importance of community and surrounding oneself with like-minded believers to foster spiritual growth and resilience.

Lev Cameron ([40:02]): "You're going to become the average of your five closest friends."

Candace advises joining a church that prioritizes biblical teaching over superficial attributes, ensuring that one's spiritual gifts are nurtured and utilized effectively.

Candace Cameron Bure ([40:48]): "Find a church that teaches the Bible... they're going to deploy your gifts and go all in there."

Practical Guidance: Steps to Rebuild After Deconstruction ([37:04] – [41:56])

Candace provides actionable advice for listeners undergoing deconstruction, emphasizing the necessity of identifying absolute truths and aligning one's life with them. She discusses overcoming legalism and avoiding adding personal rules to biblical teachings.

Candace Cameron Bure ([37:16]): "Find your source of truth... the Bible is true. I believe it can be trusted."

Lev highlights the significance of faith over intellectual curiosity, stating that certain theological debates do not undermine personal relationships with God.

Lev Cameron ([34:17]): "It doesn't change for me who God is and my relationship with him."

Listener Question: Coping with Loss and Unanswered Prayers ([41:56] – [45:25])

The episode addresses a poignant listener question from Judith, whose friend is struggling with the loss of her unsaved daughter and is questioning the efficacy of prayer. Candace offers compassionate advice, emphasizing the importance of trust in God's sovereignty and the hope that God can work in ways beyond human understanding.

Candace Cameron Bure ([42:25]): "Prayer is not just us asking him for stuff. Prayer is actually us fostering a relationship with him and even listening to him."

Jonathan adds that moments of doubt can be an opportunity to deepen one's faith, suggesting that unresolved questions should be pursued through study and community.

Jonathan Pakluta ([28:48]): "He'll take one little doubt or one little possibility against the Bible and he'll just... spread like wildfires of possible other doubt."

Candace concludes by reinforcing the belief in God's grace and the hope that, even in tragic circumstances, God’s love persists.

Candace Cameron Bure ([43:21]): "I choose to believe that if someone shared the gospel with her and prayed for her, that God, in potentially the very last moments of her life, saved her."

Conclusion: Embracing Faith and Community ([45:25] – [47:06])

As the episode wraps up, Candace and Lev encourage listeners to remain grateful and seek supportive communities to navigate their faith journeys. They reiterate the importance of building relationships grounded in shared beliefs and continuing to seek truth through scripture.

Candace Cameron Bure ([40:48]): "... build a beautiful home."

Lev Cameron ([47:06]): "Yeah."

This episode provides a deep exploration of faith deconstruction and reconstruction, offering both personal anecdotes and practical advice. Candace Cameron Bure, along with Lev and Jonathan Pakluta, navigates the complexities of doubt, community support, and the unwavering pursuit of spiritual truth, making it a valuable resource for anyone grappling with their faith journey.