Why Does Spiritual Growth Feel Like Such a Struggle? - Jonathan Pokluda

Is your faith strong enough to stand in a spiritual battle? Candace, JP, and Lev explore what it truly means to put on the armor of God. From Roman shields to real-life spiritual warfare at 3 a.m., this episode is packed with wisdom, vulnerability, and encouragement.  JP walks through the characteristics of a Spirit-filled life and reveals why Satan’s primary goal is to weaken your faith. Candace opens up about a season of exhaustion and spiritual retreat—and how God lovingly drew her back.  Lev shares what adult children really want from their parents, especially in response to a listener question from Melissa about parenting her 18-year-old son. We’re better together—and you never have to fight alone. 📘 Download the free No Fear Guide and find JP’s book Your Story Has a Villain at Candace.com SPONSORS -Mr. Pen: http://candacepens.com/ -Grand Canyon University: https://www.gcu.edu/ -Nuethix: ⁠https://nuethix.com/⁠ Use code CANDACE -100 Days of Joy and Strength: https://candacecbure.com/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when your faith falls apart? In this episode of The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, Candace, Lev, and guest co-host Jonathan Pokluda have one of the most raw and redemptive conversations of the season. From parenting regrets and personal doubt to powerful testimonies of transformation, this episode centers around a single spiritual question: What happens when faith gets deconstructed? Jonathan shares how he rebuilt his entire belief system from scratch after years of addiction, confusion, and spiritual wandering. Lev opens up about his own battles with intellectual doubt in college—and how even Bible study can become a battleground for belief. Together, the trio explores why deconstruction isn’t the end of the story—it’s the beginning of rebuilding on truth. They also respond to a deeply emotional listener question from Judith, whose friend stopped praying after losing her daughter. Jonathan offers powerful encouragement for anyone wrestling with grief and disappointment with God. If you’ve ever struggled with faith, this conversation will give you both hope and practical steps to move forward. SPONSORS -Adele Natural Cosmetics https://adelnaturalcosmetics.com/ Use my one-time code for 25% off your first order! Code CANDACE -100 Days of Joy and Strength: ⁠https://candacecbure.com/shop -Mr. Pen: http://candacepens.com/ -Grand Canyon University: https://www.gcu.edu/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it possible to become numb to the spiritual battle happening around you? In this episode, Candace, JP, and Lev explore how desensitization slowly creeps into our lives—from the media we consume to the cultural norms we quietly accept. JP shares deeply about his own spiritual accountability system, why he needs others to spot blind spots, and how community can expose what we’ve become used to. Candace opens up about longing for more in-person truth-tellers. They also tackle a listener question from Sarah about one of the most unsettling passages in the Bible: Did God really send an evil spirit to torment Saul? And if so… could that still happen today? 💬 Got questions? Visit Candace.com to send your questions and download your free copy of The No Fear Guide. You’ll also find a link to JP’s book Your Story Has a Villain. SPONSORS -JOI Womens Wellness:https://joiandblokes.com/candace/ Order Your Labs Today to Receive 50% Off! -Grand Canyon University: https://www.gcu.edu/ -100 Days of Joy and Strength: https://candacecbure.com/shop - https://nuethix.com/ Use code CANDACE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is watching a scary movie just entertainment—or something spiritually dangerous? In this bold, honest conversation, Candace, her son Lev, and Pastor Jonathan Pokluda dig into how the enemy uses division—not just destruction—as his most effective tactic. From media boundaries to church gossip to family disagreements, they explore how spiritual warfare often plays out in ordinary moments. Lev opens up about an eight-month season of spiritual doubt and how one vulnerable prayer shifted his heart. Listener Holly’s question gives way to a beautiful discussion on how parents can walk with their kids through doubt—without panic, shame, or fear. 🏷 Download your free No Fear Guide and find Pastor JP’s book Your Story Has a Villain at Candace.com SPONSORS -Mr. Pen: http://candacepens.com/ -Adele Natural Cosmetics https://adelnaturalcosmetics.com/ Use my one-time code for 25% off your first order! Code CANDACE-Grand Canyon University: https://www.gcu.edu/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the enemy could convince you that sin is freedom—and silence is safety? In this deeply personal episode, Candace, Lev, and Pastor JP unpack how the enemy deceives by flipping the value of everything: making cheap things seem worthy and making eternal things seem disposable. JP opens up about switching price tags on a Boys II Men CD as a teenager—a story that becomes a metaphor for how we can be mislead. They explore how spiritual apathy, pride, fear of man, and a shallow view of eternity can all keep believers quiet when the world needs truth the most. Candace shares about her own conviction over staying silent on set and Lev wrestles with pride and significance. This episode is both sobering and empowering, calling every listener to live for what truly matters. SPONSORS THIS SEASON -Grand Canyon University: https://www.gcu.edu/  -JOI Womens Wellness: https://joiandblokes.com/candace/ Order Your Labs Today to Receive 50% Off! -Mr. Pen: http://candacepens.com/-Ancient Nutrition is offering 25% off your first order when you go to https://ancientnutrition.com/ccb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the greatest threat to your faith isn’t fear—but distraction? Candace, JP, and Lev unpack how the enemy uses busyness, noise, and even our own thoughts to keep us from intimacy with God.  JP shares the emotional story of a dying man whose final words—"Don’t wait like I did"—remind us how easily we can miss what matters most. From golden calves to glowing screens, the team exposes how distraction can become modern-day idolatry and explains why the mind is the primary battleground in spiritual warfare. Candace also opens up about the mental exhaustion of spinning too many plates and how she’s fighting to reclaim peace, focus, and rest. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to identify your biggest distractions and learn how to redirect your attention back to Jesus. Because if the enemy can’t destroy you—he’ll try to distract you. Download your free No Fear Guide at Candace.com and take the next step toward understanding spiritual warfare with confidence, not confusion. SPONSORS -Mr. Pen: http://candacepens.com/ -NIV Application Bible: https://www.thenivbible.com/niv-application-bible - JOI Womens Wellness: joiandblokes.com/candace Order Your Labs Today to Receive 50% Off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the devil knew your weaknesses better than you did? In this episode, JP explains how the enemy studies our habits, patterns, and even family history—like a coach analyzing game film—to find ways to destroy us. But the good news? God equips us with everything we need to stand strong. Candace, Lev, and JP open up about spiritual warfare in everyday life—from the arguments in a young marriage to the pressure of working in the public eye. They talk about how demons can't read our minds but can observe our words, habits, and bloodline to wage a targeted attack. JP explains what Scripture means when it talks about generational strongholds and how geography, culture, and even well-meaning Christians can unknowingly become instruments of discouragement. They also dive into what it means to put on the armor of God, how spiritual warfare isn't always loud or cinematic, and why prayer is the key to staying grounded. You’ll also hear a powerful listener question from a woman facing chronic illness while raising a young family—and the hope that comes from remembering this truth: you're not home yet, but God is with you every step of the way. Download our free No Fear Guide at Candace.com and take the next step toward understanding spiritual warfare with confidence, not confusion. SPONSORS -Adele Natural Cosmetics https://adelnaturalcosmetics.com/ Use my one-time code for 25% off your first order! Code CANDACE -NIV Application Bible: https://www.thenivbible.com/niv-application-bible -Grand Canyon University: https://www.gcu.edu/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a casual conversation at a Utah country club turns into a full-on demonic encounter? In this stunning episode, JP shares a first-person story of deliverance that confirmed his conviction that spiritual warfare is real. But it’s not just something that happens somewhere else, to other people, in foreign countries —it can happen in a golf clubhouse too. Candace, Lev, and JP break down what authors in the Bible write about angels, demons, and strongholds. They also discuss the idea of sin opening people to demonic oppression, the Biblical model for spiritual authority, and how to discern God’s voice from the enemy’s lies. This one will make you laugh, think, and maybe think about your local golf course a little differently! Download our free No Fear Guide at Candace.com and take the next step toward understanding spiritual warfare with confidence, not confusion. SPONSORS -Mr. Pen: http://candacepens.com/ -Grand Canyon University: https://www.gcu.edu/ -NIV Application Bible: https://www.thenivbible.com/niv-application-bible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Summary: Do demons really mess with car batteries… or is that just coincidence? In the premiere episode of Season 10 of The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, Candace is joined by Pastor Jonathan “JP” Pokluda and her son, Lev Bure, to kick off a series of bold conversations about spiritual warfare—what it is, why most Christians avoid talking about it, and how it’s affecting our lives more than we realize. JP shares his own journey from skepticism to deep Biblical study, breaking down what’s written in scripture about Satan, demons, and the unseen realm. Lev reflects on his upbringing and real-life moments that made him question whether something more was happening behind the scenes. Together, the trio explores how our experiences, media, and theology often distort the truth—and how Jesus offers clarity, peace, and protection in the middle of the battle. From hilarious childhood snake stories to sobering truths about temptation and fear, this episode invites you to open your eyes to the invisible war around us—and lean on the God who wins. It’s not about living in fear. It’s about living in awareness. Free Resource: Download the No Fear Guide at Candace.com to equip yourself with biblical truth and peace for this spiritual battle. Listener Question: “I'd like to better understand evil and why it's allowed to exist among us.” JP gives a powerful response about why evil is not a thing—but rather the absence of God’s goodness. Want more like this? Subscribe, share this episode, and visit Candace.com to get updates and bonus content each week. SPONSORS -Adele Natural Cosmetics https://adelnaturalcosmetics.com/ Use my one-time code for 25% off your first order! Code CANDACE -Harper Collins  -Ancient Nutrition is offering 25% off your first order when you go to https://ancientnutrition.com/ccb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, we’re kicking off Season 10 — Your Story Has a Villain — with an incredible story of faith, family, and fierce perseverance. Candace sits down with Ben and Corley Spell, founders of Good Ranchers, to talk about entrepreneurship, marriage, parenting through hardship, and the unseen spiritual battles we all face. Their journey is anything but ordinary. From a God-given call to start a meat company (despite no experience), to walking through devastating miscarriage, entrepreneurship with toddlers in tow, and ultimately Corley’s miraculous healing from cancer — this conversation reminds us that our battles are real, but God’s faithfulness is greater. If you've ever wrestled with trusting God when the odds seem stacked against you, or wondered if He still speaks today — this episode will encourage you. YouTube: Ben and Corley Spell’s story is a testimony of radical faith, unexpected miracles, and trusting God through life’s toughest battles. From launching Good Ranchers without experience to facing cancer head-on, they reveal how God’s voice led them every step of the way. Watch now and be encouraged! 👉 Subscribe for new episodes weekly! | Visit Candace.com for resources and more. #CandaceCameronBure #FaithJourney #HealingTestimony #ChristianPodcast #GoodRanchers #CancerSurvivor #GodsVoice #Entrepreneurship #SpiritualWarfare #ParentingFaith #MarriageGoals #VictoryInChrist #Hope #Together Connect with Candace Candace on Instagram @candacecbure  Follow the Podcast on Instagram @candacecameronburepodcast  Follow the Podcast on TikTok @ccbpodcast SPONSORS -Mr. Pen: http://candacepens.com/ -Grand Canyon University: https://www.gcu.edu/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices