Why do I feel so insecure all the time?

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast

Episode: Why do I feel so insecure all the time?
Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Candace Cameron Bure
Guest: Madison Pruitt Trout

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Episode Overview

This episode delves into the roots of insecurity, self-worth, and identity. Candace Cameron Bure and guest Madison Pruitt Trout have an honest, faith-driven conversation about how personal identity gets shaped, challenged, and ultimately grounded—especially for young adults and women of faith. Through stories of vulnerability, wisdom, and some laughter, they offer spiritual, practical, and emotional guidance for anyone struggling with insecurity or self-doubt.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Power of Revival and Student-Led Faith Movements

• Madison shares the story of "UNITE," a faith-driven college movement started by her mom to combat loneliness and spiritual hunger among students.
  • Over 5,000 attended the first event at Auburn University with spontaneous baptisms and a snowballing effect across campuses.
  • "My heart is so broken over what college students are walking through... it was really, really heartbreaking things. And I just. She had this moment of just being like, I can't listen to this anymore. Like, we've got to do something about it." (Madison, 03:31)
  • Impact stats: Over 100,000 student attendees, 10,000 salvations, thousands of baptisms.

Listener Q&A: Social Battery and Family Boundaries

• How to stay polite when your social battery is drained:
  • Both Candace and Madison describe themselves as "extroverted introverts," needing to recharge with alone time.
  • Advice: Practice honesty and clarity with friends and family—set boundaries with love.
  • "Clarity is kindness and then you can share the truth in love." (Madison, 09:12)
  • "I've learned to be very upfront and honest over the years and say, hey, I'm tapped out, or I need a night in alone. I need to recharge my batteries." (Candace, 10:36)

The Search for Identity and Overcoming Insecurity

• Madison tells a humorous-but-vulnerable story about having her credit card stolen on her wedding night, drawing a parallel to how easily one’s identity can be stolen—in both practical and spiritual terms.
  • "We have a very real enemy who's trying to steal our identity, and he wants to steal, kill, and destroy our intimacy with Jesus, our purpose in this life, and our identity in Christ." (Madison, 14:35)
• Why identity in Christ matters:
  • Seeking identity in worldly things—relationships, looks, career—ultimately leaves us empty or insecure.
  • The only stable identity is rooted in God, as taught in Genesis and throughout the Bible.

Breaking Down "Christianese": What Does Finding Identity In Christ Actually Mean?

• Explaining faith concepts in everyday language:

  • We are created in God's image, meant to reflect His light (like the moon reflects the sun).
  • "We don't have light... but when we are connected to the source of light and of love... then we have that to give to other people." (Madison, 16:44)

• Candace opens up about how she tied her identity to fame and her acting career from a young age, and the pain of feeling less valuable when she stepped away from it.

  • "I felt a little less valuable that day. I felt a little less worthy of... who I was. And realize, like, oh, I very much feel that my worth is wrapped up in what I do and in my success or the recognition of it." (Candace, 20:59)
  • The turning point was understanding she is loved unconditionally by God—not for her achievements, but simply for being His child.
  • "It completely changes the game... because of the serious heart change that God does on you when you realize you're made for his, his good pleasure." (Candace, 22:01)

Biblical Stories & Verses on Identity and Self-Worth

• Woman at the Well (John 4): Madison reflects on this story as a powerful picture of restored identity.
  • "She is asking, who am I and why am I here and am I worth more than my looks? Will I ever be loved... Jesus engages in this conversation... he says, but if you come to me. I'll give you living water, and you will never thirst again." (Madison, 26:30)
  • Emphasis on how Jesus gives us a new identity, separate from our past or others’ perceptions.
• Galatians 1:10 comes up as a convicting challenge not to base life on others’ approval.
  • "Are you really trying to win the approval of people? Because if you're trying to win the approval of people, you are not a servant of Christ. And I'm like, ouch, ouch. Because I want both." (Madison, 28:36)

Practical Faith: How to Live for "An Audience of One"

• "We all have a platform... whether it's on camera, on a microphone, at the grocery store, or in your home... When you know who you are in Christ, there is... freedom." (Candace, 30:03)
• Prayer for humility and daily reminders help Candace focus on her worth in God rather than in achievements, fame, or public approval.
  • "My comfort in God is greater than my fear of man." (Candace, 32:18)
  • Visualizing one's identity and approval coming from God rather than the world.

How to Face Persistent Insecurity — Listener Question from Christina (35:35)

• Struggles with self-image and severe insecurity:
  • Christina opens up about feeling self-loathing and wishing for plastic surgery due to childhood bullying.
  • Candace responds pastorally, quoting Psalm 139 about God’s intentional creation and design.
    • "You are remarkably, fearfully and wonderfully made. God knew everything about you when he knit you together." (Candace, 37:56)
  • Madison’s advice: Feelings are valid, but they shouldn't drive your life; focus on what’s true according to God’s Word.
    • "Feel what you feel, but then know what you know." (Madison, 38:23)
  • Prayer: "Lord, help me to see myself the way you see me, and help me to see other people the way you see them."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On finding identity outside of achievements:
  • "The first time that it felt really awful to realize that my identity was in being an actor was when... I was 21... I saw his face drop. Like, he was disappointed that I wasn’t a person on a TV show anymore... I felt a little less valuable that day. I felt a little less worthy..."
    —Candace Cameron Bure (20:59)
• On a new perspective of self-worth:
  • "When I realized that only in the one who created me and putting my hope and identity in him will I know who I truly am. Because when we know whose we are, then we’ll know who we are."
    —Madison Pruitt Trout (15:26)
• On overcoming people-pleasing:
  • "Galatians 1:10 has been a continual, convicting verse for me... ouch, ouch. Because I want both. I want the approval of people and the approval of God."
    —Madison (28:36)
• On facing self-image struggles:
  • "Feel what you feel, but then know what you know. Your feelings are valid, but they're not always right... God's word is what's supposed to be leading and directing and guiding our life."
    —Madison (38:23)
• On daily spiritual practice:
  • "Pray for humility all the time. That's where it has to start for me... My comfort in God is greater than my fear of man."
    —Candace (30:03, 32:18)
• On ultimately seeking God’s approval:
  • "We so often want to hear well done from everybody else. When it only matters that we hear those words from Jesus one day."
    —Madison (33:33)

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Important Timestamps

• 03:31 – Madison explains the origin of "UNITE" and its campus revival story.
• 09:12 – Madison and Candace discuss how to set boundaries with loved ones.
• 11:35 – Introduction to identity discussion.
• 14:35 – Madison’s wedding night identity theft story and spiritual analogy.
• 16:44 – Madison's analogy: Moon reflecting the sun as we reflect God.
• 20:59 – Candace shares a formative story of tying her worth to her acting career.
• 26:30 – John 4, "woman at the well"; Biblical view of restored identity.
• 28:36 – Galatians 1:10, people-pleasing vs. serving Christ.
• 30:03 – Candace on practical ways to live for an "audience of one."
• 35:35 – Listener question about severe insecurity and body image.
• 38:23 – Madison reframes how to relate to feelings and truth.

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Tone & Style

Warm, vulnerable, spiritually rooted, and practical—filled with encouragement and gentle honesty; both hosts share from personal experience and offer actionable advice grounded in their faith.

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Key Takeaways

• True identity is not found in what you do, how you look, or in the approval of others, but in God who created and loves you unconditionally.
• Setting boundaries, honest communication, and daily spiritual disciplines are essential in resisting insecurity and people-pleasing.
• Scripture and prayer are foundational tools to help reshape negative self-image and root oneself in truth rather than feelings or worldly narratives.
• You are not alone in your struggles, and it’s never too late or too early to step into the purpose God has for you.

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For further encouragement and resources, listeners are invited to visit Candace’s website for additional materials and to submit their questions for future podcast episodes.

Transcript

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

So I open up this chapter talking about a time right after Grant and I got married and I talk about our first night married actually, which are.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

There going to be too many details here. Where are we going with this? Grand Canyon University, an affordable private Christian university based in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona, is one of the largest universities in the country. Praised for its culture of community and impact, GCU integrates the free market system, a welcoming Christian worldview, and free and open open discourse into 369 academic programs with over 300 online join a nationwide community of learners redefining what online education looks like through academically rigorous, industry driven programs that can spark bold ideas and prepare you for a future that matters. In addition to federal grants and aid, GCU's online students received nearly $161 million in institutional scholarships in 2024. Find your purpose at Grand Canyon University Private Christian affordable. Visit gcu.edu myoffer to see the scholarships you may qualify for. Okay, friends, if you're looking for a clean, heartwarming romantic comedy this Valentine's season, I have one for you. Solo Mio from Angel Studios. It's about a man who's left at the altar in Rome and ends up taking his honeymoon alone. And what unfolds is this funny, tender and surprisingly beautiful story. And it is set in Italy. It's absolutely stunning. Think sunsets, villas, all the romance. Okay. Kevin James is one of my favorites. He's the absolute best. He's hilarious and he's so heartfelt. And Jonathan Roumie is in this and you are gonna love seeing this really fun, unexpected side of him. I love supporting movies that make you feel good without compromising your. And this one is wholesome, it's charming, it's hopeful, everything you want a rom com to be. So grab your spouse, grab your friends, your kids and go see Solo mio in theaters February 6th. Let's choose joy and choose good stories. Purchase [e-mail] Candice. Life is like a roller coaster, but it's so much better when we go through it together. Welcome back to the Candace Cameron Bure Podcast. We're here for real conversations about life's challenges, celebrations, and everything in between. Today, Madison Pruitt Trout and I are talking about identity. What is most true about who you are. To be a part of a private podcast chat, you can become a [e-mail] together. Come join us. Madison.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Madison I feel like I'm at a basketball game, like coming out of the tunnel. I'm about to play like the biggest game and I just feel so pumped up after that.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

I was gonna ask, do people chant your name when you're speaking at the big universities?

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

That has not happened.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

I think I need to start that rally.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

I'm gonna start inviting you to all of these so that I can start the most.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Would you actually tell us about unite?

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Yeah. Yeah. So my mom had the vision for UNITE a few years ago. And I remember we were sitting down, it was like a New Year's Eve, and we were writing out our goals for the year, and it's me and my husband and my mom, and we're sitting there and we're talking about it, and she was like, I. My heart is so broken over what college students are walking through. She had been leading a small group at Auburn University campus and just was listening to so many of the stories and the testimonies and could not believe these girls who seemed on the outside to be so put together, like, everything was good and everything was great. And they were in church and they were raised in a good family, and just the stuff they were walking through and the sin they were living in and the lies they were believing and the things they were struggling over, I mean, it was like, really, really heartbreaking things. And I just. She had this moment of just being like, I can't listen to this anymore. Like, we've got to do something about it. And so she started praying on Auburn's campus and started walking the campus of Auburn with her small group and praying for Revival to come to Auburn's campus. And that carried on for months. And then her goal was to see Revival come to Auburn's campus. And so she started planning this event, had no idea if anybody was going to show up. And so she started planning this event at Auburn University. And her whole life she had really just focused on being a mom and a wife. And. And so she poured a lot into my dad and into me and my sisters. And this was a dream and a burden God had put on her heart. And she was like, okay, I don't feel qualified for this. I don't know if anybody's even going to show up for, but, like, I'm just gonna be obedient and just trust God with the rest. And so she called Jonathan Bakluda and Jenny Allen and they both said, no. They were like, sorry, our schedule's full. We can't make it happen. And she was like, no, you're supposed to be there. I know in my heart and spirit, God, like, you were supposed to be there. And they were like, okay. And they rearranged their schedule, showed up, we all flew together, had no idea, thought, you know, a few hundred people are gonna gather together. And there were over 5,000 people at Auburn University gathered together.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Get out. This was last year or the year before.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Two years ago.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Two years ago.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

And after there was spontaneous baptisms. It was not planned, it was not part of the night. And at the end, one student came forward and said, I really feel led to get baptized. And that just started a ripple effect. And then after the event ended, news outlets picked it up. It started just spreading word. And all of these universities were like, come to our campus, please. We're so hungry, we're so desperate for it. And so it's been so cool to see this has just been an only God kind of story. And it's been beautiful just to be a part of it and watch my mom just steward it so faithfully and be so obedient to what God is speaking, especially her whole testimony and stories is just quite beautiful. But anyways, yeah, it's really cool. We're bringing the gospel to college campuses. And, you know, it's not an event where we're saying, hey, come to us. It's like, hey, we're coming to you. Yeah, it's very student led and driven. And so these students are reaching out to Unite, saying, we want you to come to our campus. And they're the ones, you know, raising a lot of the funds for the night. They're the ones getting the word out. I mean, Unite is really just partnering with these students, saying, you know, it's the Holy Spirit and you guys who are going to change your campus.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

How do you get Unite to your university or. And how do people find out if Unite is coming to their university?

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Yeah, so you just reach out. I mean, we've had people literally just DM unite. I'm sure they have more official forms by now. I've honestly been a little bit more of a just like supporter and encourager and coming alongside of unite. So I don't know all the ins and outs, but I know they have a website, they have an Instagram handle, Unite Us. And you can go and request, you know, UNITE to come to your school. And there's a process of like, you know, getting on some calls, making sure that it, you know, can work and can happen and getting the funds together and having the right team behind it. But yeah, it's been really beautiful. There's been more than 100,000 students that have gathered together at these unites. There's been over 10,000 salvations. There's been so many thousands of baptisms. I mean, it's really been remarkable to see what God is doing. And it's really beautiful too, because the heart of UNITE is for there not to just be this one event moment, but for there to be a continual everyday transformation and walk with Jesus. And so getting these students plugged into local churches is a really big part of unite. And so after they get baptized, we actually get their info and we connect them to local churches and they get plugged into local churches for discipleship.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

That is so great. That's incredible.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

It's been amazing.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

I love that today we're going to be talking a lot about our identity and the truth about you. And so to. To see so many thousands of young people, college age students, finding their identity in Christ is incredible.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Yeah.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Thank you for all that you're doing. Thank your mom for all that she's doing and listening to that call on her life to start something that feels so big and outrageous that only God could do.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Truly. And she was 50 something when that dream came to fruition. And so that's why I love never too old, never too young to be obedient and pursue what God's calling you to do.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Yeah. Oh, it's so great. Well, thanks for sharing that. We're going to start with a listener question today. And sometimes our listener questions can be very heavy, but we also get some really practical ones. And a consistent theme in our questions is about relationships. So today's opening question is from Jesse. She said, do you have any tips on how to stay polite with friends and family when your social battery is drained? So let me ask you, what, what kind of personality are you? Are you and are you super social? Are you. What's the, what's the word?

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Extrovert?

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Extrovert? Are you an extrovert or an introvert?

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

I'm very extroverted, but I do hit my limit. And when I hit my limit, I'm like, I'm tapped out, I'm done. I need a second, I need to retreat and I need some alone time. But honestly, for me it just, I have to wake up and have my quiet time in the morning and have some like, alone time with Jesus. And then typically I'm good the rest of the day. But honestly, I just think honesty is the best policy. Clarity is kindness and then you can share the truth in love. And so just being like, hey, I need a second, I need a break, I love you. I just need 10 minutes alone. Or, you know, if it's with extended family, like, I've had to, you know, my husband and I both, since getting married have had to have those conversations of like, hey, we love you guys, but now we're family number one. This is family number one priority. And so I know growing up, like we were with you guys 24 7, but now, like, we are prioritizing our family. And so we're going to spend this day as just a family and then we'll see you guys, you know, on this day. And just, I don't know, I think leading with clarity is kind and people can respect that.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Totally. I'm very much the same. I'm an extroverted person, but really, I guess I would consider myself an introvert because I a hundred percent need the recharge and the downtime. I can't keep going all of the time.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

But I was just saying right before this podcast, your capacity is unmatched. It's amazing.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Well, thanks. The capacity is there. I know how to reserve the fuel in the tanks and I can still go off of fumes, but I don't like to do that, that I like to space it out. So I've. I've learned to be very upfront and honest over the years and say, hey, I'm tapped out, or I need a night in alone. I need to recharge my batteries. What. The advice you gave was great. I'd be the same way. Just be open and honest and. But I know that there are some people that are truly introverts who are like, any of it is very difficult for them. I don't have any advice for you because I don't know how that feels. Totally.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Just keep trying and pray that God would give you. I guess that, that, that is hard.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Yeah. But as long as you're kind about it, just. Just tell people that you need a night, a night off or something. Okay, so today we're talking about identity. And how do you. How do you talk about identity in your book?

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Yeah, so I like to open up this. So I open up this chapter talking about a time right after Grant and I got married. And I talk about our first night married, actually, which.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Are there going to be too many details here? Where are we going with this?

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Always leads people on the edge of their seat. I went and spoke at this university, actually, and I opened up with this story and everyone was like, sweating when I was like, I'm going to tell you guys about my wedding night. And they're like, yeah, but, you know, it's not going where you think it's going. But, Grant, I got married, and we are on the way to our little hotel getaway stay, and I'm so excited. You know, I had saved myself for marriage, so I was really looking forward to this night. And we show up at the hotel, and, you know, we're just trying to set the mood. We eat a little bit of food. We're talking about the night. There's some music playing. Like, the vibes are there, and we're really excited. But then we get a phone call halfway through, like, kind of talking through the night and just kind of hanging out and coming off of the high of the wedding, we get a phone call. And we're like, that's so weird, because it was the hotel phone. And so we answer the phone, and we're like, hello. Don't you know what tonight is? It's our wedding night.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Yeah. Why are you calling? Hello?

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Come on. And on the other end of the line, they said, hey, this is, you know, the. The person at the front desk. Something happened with your credit card. Like, we don't have it in the system anymore. We need you to give your credit card information, and we shouldn't make sure everything's set so you can go on, carry on with your stay, Enjoy your stay. And we were like, that's so weird. Grant was like, I gave you everything, but whatever, here's the information. Please don't call me back. I'm enjoy enjoying my time with my wife. You know, I'm excited for tonight. You know, I let. I planned all the wedding. Grant planned the honeymoon and the wedding night stay. So he's like, come on, you're interrupting my time. And so we go back, we're chatting, we're hanging out, and I kid you not, a couple minutes later, someone comes and knocks on our door. And we're like, what is going on? We open the door, and it's the lady at the front desk, and she seems panicked, and she's like, hey, did you speak with your family? They kept calling, and I put them through to you. We're like, we've not spoken to our family. It's our wedding night. But we did just speak to you on the phone, and we gave you our credit card information. She was like, that wasn't me. And we're like, what do you mean? And she said, there was somebody on the other end saying they were your family calling into me to put them.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Through to you guys, like it was an emergency.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Like it was an emergency. We need to talk to Maddie and Grant and I put them through. And then. So they pretended. This person pretended to be the front desk lady to us, but then to the front desk lady pretended to be our family. We put it together that now this stranger had our credit card information and was robbing us, now knew the room number we were staying in, trying to hack into all of our information. And we spent the next two or three hours on the phone with banks trying to stop someone from, you know, hacking into our bank and all this stuff. And we were so frustrated and annoyed. And now we can laugh about it and talk about it, and it's.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Sure. But in the moment.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

But in the moment, heated. I was so mad. I mean, I literally was crying, and I was just rebuking Satan and all the things. And I was so frustrated. But I walked away from that experience. And how I talk about it now and what I talk about in my book is, you know, there was a person who was trying to steal our money. But in the same way, we have a very real enemy who's trying to steal our identity, and he wants to steal, kill, and destroy our intimacy with Jesus, our purpose in this life, and our identity in Christ. And he will use whatever it takes and whatever he's got to do to try and get to us, to make us question who we are and how we were created and why we were created the way we were created, and to start whispering lies again through cultural lies. Or maybe it's things that have happened to us that create an insecurity or a confusion. And I think about, you know, my own life, and there's so many moments where I've questioned my identity or I've looked to the things of this world to try and tell me who I am. And I continually come up confused or insecure or empty. And it was. It's when I've realized that only in the one who created me and putting my hope and identity in him will I know who I truly am. Because when we know whose we are, then we'll know who we are. And when I realized that, it changed everything. I was no longer, you know, walking into rooms or showing up in relationships looking for another person to tell me who I am. But I instead now get to walk into rooms and walk into relationships and have conversations and engage in life knowing who I am, looking for ways to encourage people.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

How do you think for someone listening that says, I don't. I don't know how to find out who I am? How do I find. How do I find my identity in Christ? What does that look like. Like I'm still confused when I hear those words.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Yes. Yeah, I know it can feel very.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Like Christian because it does feel Christianese. And I always like to break that down for the audience because we can get so comfortable with language. But what does that really mean? What does that look like for the person that's listening that says, I. I want that I want to find my identity in Christ, but I. I don't know exactly what it means to do that.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Well, we go back to the beginning of Scripture. In the chapter of Genesis or in the book of Genesis, even in chapter one, two, three, you see that we were created in the image of God. And when it says in Scripture that we were created in the image of God, if we want to know who we are, we have to go and see who is he, who is God. If we were created in his image, then who is He? And as we study in Scripture and we see who God is, and we see that he is light and that he is love, and that he is beauty and that he is power, and that he is all these beautiful things. And we were made in his image to reflect him to this world, to reflect his glory and his goodness and his love to the world around us. We realize, okay, if we're made in his image, then I'm called to just. I'm called to look like Him. I am called to reflect him to those around me. And I heard it said one time of this analogy of the moon. You know, the moon doesn't give off light by itself. The moon actually only reflects the light of the sun. And so the moon in and of itself doesn't have light. It only has the light that it gets as it reflects the sun. And in the same way, we are all to be like moons. We don't have light. We don't have love. We don't have goodness on our own. But when we are connected to the source of light and of love, and when we know who he is, then we have that to give to other people and to be, you know, in this world.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

And that's a great analogy. I like that one. I haven't heard it before.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

It's an interesting one because we can put a lot of pressure on ourself to try and find who we are. But when we just know that it actually is not about us, and it's all about the One who created us, and we just, just like, root ourselves in that source, it takes the pressure off. What about you? Like, how. How have you discovered your true identity? And what has that quest been like for you?

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Oh, my goodness. Let's see.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

I think.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

I think over the years, naturally, for me, I've thought my identity was in what I did for work. That's typically the first question we ask when we meet people. Hi, how are you? What's your name? Okay, so maybe second question. And then like, oh, what do you do?

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Yeah.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

And because I started working at such a young age, at 5 years old, was on full house by 10.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Wow.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

It really was my identity. I'm Candace. I'm an actress. And so the first time that it felt really awful to realize that my identity was in being an actor was when I was pregnant with Natasha. I've told this story before, but I was at. I was very pregnant, and I went up to the butcher counter to get some ground meat to cook for dinner, and the butcher was like, hey, aren't you that girl on Full House Now? Mind you, I was 21 years old. 21 or 22 years old. And I said, yeah, I am. And he kind of looked at my pregnant belly, and he's like, oh, like, what are you working on now? And I was like, oh, I'm not. I'm just. I'm. I'm married and I'm a mom now. And he was like, oh. And he just had this disappointment in his face, and he got me my half a pound of ground meat, whatever, and I walked away. But I. I turned around from that counter picking up the rest of my groceries, and I honestly felt terrible. I thought I. Because I saw his face drop. Like, he was disappointed that I wasn't a person on a TV show anymore, that he wasn't meeting a famous person. He was now just meeting some pregnant lady in the store. And I felt a little less valuable that day. I felt a little less worthy of. I don't know, of who I was. And realize, like, oh, I very much feel that my worth is wrapped up in what I do and in my success or the recognition of it.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Yeah.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

But, you know, at 21 years old, at 22 years old, these are all new things. They're new feelings. I was still not quite at the point where God had revealed my true need for him yet. Like, I hadn't understood that sin moment that we talked about. I think it was last week we talked about it, where I had that revelation of why I needed God and why I needed his grace. And so just walking in that, I'm like, what. What am I supposed to do with that? Do people not like me if I'm not a Famous person. Is this all I'm worth? Lots of questions go through your mind.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Yeah.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

And all the more when I can now move to the point of understanding, oh, I'm a child of God, I'm a daughter of God. God loves me like unconditionally just because of who I am, made me, created me for his enjoyment.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Yeah.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

And I get to be a reflection of that. I get to model who he is to people. I get to be a light bearer for him and to understand that as purpose in my life that that's the purpose and the reason that I was created. I would say that was finding my identity in Christ. And then it completely changes the game. Yeah. Now I could walk into a room when I went back into acting because I had taken a 10 year break when I had the three kids and then I went back into acting in my 30s. But my whole perspective was so different because it wasn't like, hey, it's me, I'm Candace. Do you recognize me? I'm on another TV show. It was all about do you, do you know God? Can I share the gospel message with you? Can I share the good news with you? And that identity in him changed forever. And the performance aspect of finding myself in the things that I did or the money that I made or the friends that I had or the car that I drive, I mean whatever you want to name that pretty much goes out the door because of the serious heart change that God does on you when you realize you're made for his, his good pleasure. When it comes to healthcare, it can feel really overwhelming and expensive. But we Share really simplifies it. It's the simplest non reimbursement health share on the market. And it's built around people helping people with we Share members share in each other's medical costs in a faith based community that focuses on four important things, cost, network, community and freedom. And just for listening We Share is waiving the $149 application fee. So don't wait for your free no obligation quote [e-mail] candice or call 855-230-2523. That's 855-230-2523. We talk a lot on this podcast about faith, family and intentional living. And recently I came across something I'd honestly never seen before. A bank built around values. It's called 316 financial. And what stood out to me right away is that they give 10% of their profits back to faith based ministries. I just love the idea that something as everyday as banking can quietly support work that truly matters and you're not giving anything up. Their accounts are genuinely great. No monthly fees, free ATM access nationwide and high interest interest. Right now, when you open a 3:16 financial savings account and maintain an average balance of $5,000 for 90 days, they'll add $250 to your account. You can learn more at bank316.com candice and be sure to use the promo code Candice when you open your account. Banking services are provided by 316 Financial, a division of Primus bank member FDIC. Deposit accounts can be opened with as little as $1. I'm really intentional about what I put on my body and in my body. And so many brands that we've trusted over the years have quietly been bought out and filled with new ingredients. That's why I think you love the Van man company. They're committed to real old school products. No fillers, no corporate nonsense. Their grass fed Talo bomb is incredible. The fatty acids are almost identical to your own skin, so your body recognizes it immediately. One balm it can replace your lotion, your night cream, even diaper cream. A little goes a long way. And people love their miracle tooth powder. And it's made with real bone hydroxyapatite. It's the same mineral that your teeth are made up with. Zero fluoride or foaming agents. And their pearl eye cream. It is packed with tallow wild caught pearl powder and nourishing oils that actually support the delicate skin around your eye. So if you're ready to switch to products made within integrity, go to van man Shop BUR and use the code BURE. That's B U R E for 15% off your first order. Van man real ingredients, no exceptions.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

That's so good. It makes me think about In John chapter four, the woman the well. And Jesus has this encounter with this woman who has a broken and shattered identity like she does not. She is. She is asking, who am I and why am I here and am I worth more than my looks? Will I ever be loved the way I want to be loved? Does anyone see me? And there's probably a lot of people that are listening this podcast right now that are asking those questions. And Jesus engages in this conversation with this woman and he says, you know, you're gonna have to keep coming back to this well again and again and again, like you're thirsty and you're gonna keep having to come back to get the same water because you're gonna get thirsty again. And he says, but if you come to me. I'll give you living water, and you will never thirst again. And it says, she leaves that moment. More words were exchanged, but she leaves that moment going and boasting about everything. Jesus had saved her and set her free from the thing that probably kept her so bound and hidden and isolated for so long. Then she began to just tell everybody what he rescued her from. And she just was on mission to share the good news. And she. It was like she. This whole new identity was found. And it talks about that in Scripture, that those of us who are in Christ, we are a new creation and we have a new identity. It's like when you get married and you get a new name, a new last name. Like, we are given a new name. And I think that that's so beautiful. And what good news that is for all of us, that we are not our past mistakes, that we don't have to strive to be good enough. We don't have to thirst for the world's validation and attention because that's gonna leave us continuously empty. It's gonna be. You talk about it in your intro. It's gonna be like a roller coaster. Like, it's gonna be, one day we're good. One day we're really not good. One day we know who we are. One day we really don't know who we are. And instead, when we know that our identity is rooted in someone much greater than us and the One who created us and we let him tell us who we are, we're no longer thirsty for other people to tell us who we are, because we know who we are. And that's been an adventure for me. Like, that's. I've definitely had a lot of moments where I've looked for, you know, the guys that I was dating or into or my career or my following or what. Just what people thought about me. You know, my. My people pleasing, just wanting to be approved and, you know, to be good with. With other people and caring more about what people thought about me than what God thought about me. And Galatians 1:10 has been a continual, convicting verse for me because it says, are you really trying to win the approval of people? Because if you're trying to win the approval of people, you are not a servant of Christ. And I'm like, ouch, ouch. Because I want both.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

It's so true. I felt this verse very much when I was on Dancing with the Stars. And I think about our reality show connection. Yours was a dating show. I went on a dance show. But I kept saying that verse to myself too, because there is a sense where you're like, well, I actually am trying to win over an audience and please an audience. However, that's not my real audience. My audience is an audience of one.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

It's God that's so good. I used to write on my wrist every time before a basketball game. And I've just carried this principle into my life now, audience of 1, a 0, 1. And just would remind myself, I am living for only his approval. But how do you practically do that? Like, what are steps for you that you. How do you choose to resist living for the approval of people and remind yourself daily that your true identity is in God?

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Yeah, I mentioned. I pray for humility all the time. That's where it has to start for me. I know that God opens doors. He gives us all the ability. Our platforms are all different, but every person has a platform, whether it's on camera or on a microphone or it's at the grocery store or it's in your home, in your living room. We all have a platform to the people that are around us. And there's something about. When you. When you do know who you are in Christ, there is. There's that word again. Freedom. There's such a freedom. So practically living up that today for me, I know that. I know that God's with me. I just know. I know that. I inherently know that because His Word tells me. And I'm actively praying to listen and hear his voice and with me. And I know He. He opens and closes doors for us. And so when there's an open door, no matter how scared I am, I'm willing to walk through it because I know he's with me. And I walked through those open doors enough scared out of my mind to know that God is with me. It's like a little child. They have this. This inherent trust in Mommy, inherent trust in Daddy, that they're willing to do what that is because they know you've got them. They know that you're going to protect them. So in the same way I feel the same way with God, I know he's got me and will protect me. And so the fear of man becomes less. It doesn't mean it goes away. I still have fear of man. However, my, my. My comfort in God is greater than my fear of man. And so that kind of wipes a lot of the fear of going into a situation for me. And when I can walk into an interview confidently, knowing that it is an entertainment interview, it's secular. It's not a Christian journalist that I'm talking to. And they might ask me some hard hitting questions. I have way less fear because I know that I'm not standing before them on the day that I die.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Amen.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

I'm gonna stand before a holy God and he's gonna give an account for every word that I speak. And I have so much trust in that. Through the honesty of living my life for God and through finding my identity in him, it just, it doesn't make life easier. I don't want to say that because there are hard decisions and tough steps to walk through. But when you know that God's with you, sometimes holding your hand and sometimes literally carrying you, you're able to do it.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

That's so good. I think about my little hosanna and just the way that she. You're talking about, like, having a little child, and the way she looks up at me all the time. Anytime she sees something new, she just looks back at mom, what do you think about this? And just all the time constantly looking at me. If, you know, even if she like falls down or like hits. Hits her hand or foot on something, it's like she looks at me to see am I really in pain, Am I okay? Am I gonna be okay?

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Right?

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

And I just think that's such a beautiful picture of us just continuing to look to Jesus. Okay, I'm in a new season. Okay, am I. Are we good, Jesus? Like, who. Who am I? Can you just remind me of who I am? And like you're saying you're. You're so comforted by him that it gives you what you need to not live your life constantly for the approval of man and for pleasing man. And I love that you brought it back to, we're all gonna be face to face with Jesus one day. And it just, it truly brings me to tears because I think we so often want to hear well done from everybody else. Like, we're living our life hearing well done, well done, well done. And we're so thirsty to hear those words from everybody else, when it only matters that we hear those words from Jesus one day. And I just remind myself of that often. Like, Maddie, you are living to hear those words from one, from the true king, from the true judge, your father, your Lord, your savior. And reminding myself of that. It's what you're saying, like, it just puts everything into perspective where I'm not constantly trying to get those words from everybody else with what I do and with who I am. And when you live your life from that place of just security and peace and confidence and eternal perspective, it really does change everything. And your confidence being in who he is, because his word says he's the same yesterday, today and forever. He's never changing. And he's not. It talks about in James 1:17 like he. He does. He is not like shifting like the shadows like he is. He is constant. He is a rock. And when our confidence is in him, no matter what comes, no matter what storms come, no matter what life brings, our confidence can be unshaken and always steady because it's rooted in him and not in our ability to show up or muster the courage or live based on what other people have to say about us. And so that's been so big for me and I'm so grateful you brought that back up because it is such a good reminder.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Yeah, well, thanks and amen to all the things that you said. Okay, we are gonna close out with a listener question. This is our second one today from Christina. She says, I have intense insecurity and self loathing of my face. When I look at myself, I just see a deformed and ugly face. I want to get plastic surgery so I can look halfway decent, but I don't think that's an option. I was teased growing up and called ugly many times. And I wonder to God why I can't just look normal. I'm Christina Maip. My heart breaks for you and I'm just so sorry that you. That you feel that way and that you've been called such hurtful, hurtful names and been teased and. You know, the first scripture that I thought of is Psalm 139, and it says, for it was you who created my inward parts. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret. When I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless. All my days were written in your book. Book and planned before a single one of them began. Christina, you are. You are remarkably, fearfully and wonderfully made. God knew everything about you when he knit you together. And so there was no mistake in any of that. And I just want to remind you of that. And you know, I don't. I mean, there's so many of us carry hurt and pain and have those types of feelings about ourselves. And my encouragement to you is to say it's okay. To feel the feelings, but don't sit on those feelings. You need to remind yourself of who God made you to be and that there was purpose in creating you and he knew exactly how he was going to make you. You were created with purpose and intention and are so loved by God. And I want you to think about those things. But if anything is good and pure and true and right, think about those things. Yeah. So, Christina, meditate on those things about yourself.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Amen. So good. You said something about feel what you feel, but then know what you know. Like, feel what you feel, but then know what you know. Your feelings are valid, but they're not always right. And sometimes we let our feelings be in the driver's seat when they were never meant to be. You know, God's word is what's supposed to be leading and directing and guiding our life. And it's so are your feelings are not to be overlooked or to be belittled or to be, you know, even rebuked. But we do have to make sure that we're turning back to what's true and thinking on things that are true. And I think it's so often comparison that robs us from our ability to be truly content and confident in who God's created us to be. And so just be careful with, you know, who we're. You're comparing yourself to. I know for me, I am the most confident and content when my eyes are just on Jesus and I'm just turning to the Bible and saying, lord, will you tell me who I am? And praying the simple prayer of lord, help me to see myself the way you see me and help me to see other people the way you see them. And that really does help our ability to walk in our true identity.

[Candace Cameron Bure]

Yeah, that's good. Thank you for that. Okay, everyone, welcome back. We have so many more episodes we are talking through. We have talked about some heavy stuff today and if you are looking for more encouragement, grab the free dare to be true [e-mail] where you'll also find a link to Maddie's book dare to be true. If you have a question about something going on in your life, well, click the got Questions [e-mail] until next time. Be grateful all day, every day. Candy rock Entertainment. All rights reserved.

[Madison Pruitt Trout]

Sa.