Podcast Summary: The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast
Episode: Wildflowers & Worry: Finding Freedom from Anxiety with Ruth Chou Simons
Date: November 11, 2025
Host: Candace Cameron Bure
Guest: Ruth Chou Simons
Overview
In the opening of Season 12, Candace Cameron Bure sits down with Ruth Chou Simons—bestselling author, artist, and founder of GraceLaced—to discuss finding freedom from anxiety, wrestling with worry, and the grounding spiritual truths that help us through life's roller coaster moments. With warmth and vulnerability, both women share personal stories, biblical wisdom, and practical guidance for listeners struggling with anxiety or seeking peace in a fast-paced world.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Ruth’s Journey: Art, Ministry, and Merging Beauty with Faith
- Ruth recounts how her background intertwined ministry, family, and art ([05:02]):
- She explains that she long believed women had to choose between enriching doctrine and outward beauty, but later saw how combining the two in her art and writing helped others slow down to meditate on God’s Word.
- “Why do women have to choose between [doctrine and beauty]?” – Ruth ([05:10])
- Candace admires Ruth’s books, noting their unique beauty and simplicity as an alternative to practices like Bible journaling ([06:32]).
The Wildflower Analogy: Letting Go of Anxiety and Control
- Ruth explains the inspiration from wildflowers (and Jesus’ words in Luke 12:27) for her new book, “The Way of the Wildflower” ([09:20]):
- Wildflowers thrive without being toiled over, a model for living without exhaustive worry and striving.
- “There is no gardener but the master gardener. Nobody’s there…adding fertilizer or putting sprinklers on them.” – Ruth ([10:04])
- Worry stems from a sense of lost control, something both Ruth and Candace relate to from personal experience.
The Roots of Worry: Seeking Control & Belonging
- Ruth shares about her immigrant background, childhood fears of belonging, and later anxieties as a new mom ([11:10]):
- Even when much of her striving and fear lessened, small anxieties and worries persist.
- “We all have areas of our lives where we’re like, I just don’t want this to turn out bad.” – Ruth ([15:59])
- Candace discusses her own mental spinning, overthinking conversations and decisions, and how she sometimes wakes from anxiety-driven dreams ([12:26]):
- “I’m always spinning and toiling…I have a very hard time turning my mind off.” – Candace ([11:37])
Biblical Wisdom: Preaching Truth to Ourselves
- Both speakers unpack how the Psalms model honest struggle followed by declarations of God’s character and trust ([17:39]):
- Candace highlights how David’s laments are always followed by hope—“but You are God…I put my hope in You” ([18:00]).
- Ruth recommends “preaching truth to your own heart”—intentionally reminding yourself who God is when anxious.
- “This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases…” – Lamentations 3:21-23 ([26:33])
Practical Ways to Address Anxiety
- Replace worries with gratitude ([24:22]):
- “Worry and gratitude can’t exist at the same time in the same heart.” – Ruth ([24:22])
- Stay rooted in scripture daily, not just during crisis ([26:33]):
- Candace shares Philippians 4:6 and Matthew 6 as her go-to verses ([25:17])
- Ruth encourages regular reading as a “deposit” for when hard times come.
- Be honest about the spectrum of anxiety ([30:41]):
- Ruth differentiates between everyday worry, anxious thoughts, and clinically significant anxiety, noting the value of therapy, medical help, and self-compassion.
- “Regardless of how much you struggle…all of us have to start by realigning our thoughts to the ways of God.” – Ruth ([33:19])
Listener Q&A Highlights
Q: How do we stop the anxiety in our minds?
- Ruth: “The only way you can change the way you think is to replace the way you think with something better…It’s a daily realignment.” ([34:06])
- Candace: “When that anxious thought…comes into my mind, I literally stop it, and I’m like, whoop, you recognize it, you stop it.” ([34:44])
Q: What is a trick you have learned to help you on a bad day?
- Candace: “I practice a grateful mindset. Instead of thinking about the negativity or the things that are going wrong, I focus on the positive…Sometimes it’s as simple as, I’m alive, I’m breathing.” ([36:42])
- Ruth: “It’s hard to complain and be grateful at the same time…” ([36:56])
Q: What is one thing you do for your mental health every day?
- Ruth: “I put away all devices and go for a walk every day…Be in awe of God, because it’ll help all your stress go away…” ([38:49])
- Candace: “Putting my devices away at night is so, so, so important…I can get it out [by] walking or exercising.” ([39:35])
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Why do women have to choose between the two?” — Ruth Chou Simons ([05:10])
- “There is no gardener but the master gardener… I really understand now what Jesus was saying: consider how the wildflower grows. It doesn’t toil or spin.” — Ruth ([10:04])
- “I’m always spinning and toiling…I have a very hard time turning my mind off.” — Candace ([11:37])
- “What are you thinking about, and what’s causing you to… feel a little anxious?” — Ruth ([13:42])
- “Worry and gratitude can’t exist at the same time in the same heart.” — Ruth ([24:22])
- “You can trust your Savior, you can trust who God is and how he provides for you.” — Ruth ([19:01])
- “We default to what we practice the most.” — Ruth ([32:34])
- “Be grateful all day, every day.” — Candace (Closing message)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [05:02] Ruth on merging art and ministry
- [09:20] Wildflowers as a spiritual metaphor for rest and trust
- [11:10] Personal experiences with anxiety (both hosts)
- [17:39] The Psalms and “preaching truth” to your soul
- [24:17] The power of gratitude over anxiety
- [26:33] Building peace through daily scripture
- [30:41] Differentiating between worry, anxiety, and clinical needs
- [34:06] Listener Q&A: stopping anxious thoughts
- [36:42] Listener Q&A: shifting to a grateful mindset on bad days
- [38:49] Listener Q&A: daily practical mental health routines
Tone and Language
The conversation is intimate, encouraging, and full of faith. Both Ruth and Candace speak with authenticity, using practical examples, gentle humor, and heartfelt wisdom rooted in scripture. The tone is supportive—less about having all the answers, more about walking together through life’s difficulties and pointing listeners toward lasting peace.