Tim Tebow Knows All About Ridicule and Being Hated: Now He's Helping Others Survive When Their Life is "Shaken"

Abigail Robertson : Oct 31, 2016
CBN News

"Not everybody can relate to the highs [I've had in life], but almost everybody can relate to the lows." -Tim Tebow

(Scottsdale, AZ)—[CBN News] The world has noticed Tim Tebow since his days playing college football. But who could have predicted a Heisman trophy winner and pro-football quarterback would find himself in Scottsdale, Arizona, playing Minor League Baseball? (Screengrab via CBN News)

A little over a year ago, Tebow felt God leading him to write a book for others facing challenges of all kinds.

"I wanted to write something to those people to encourage them that there's still a God that loves you, that created you in love, by love, for love, for a purpose, that you matter, and you're significant," he told CBN News. "So when people are going through tough times, they have something to hold onto, and they do in their relationship with Christ."

In his new book, Tebow talks about his tougher times. Those ranged from trying to just be "one of the guys" on a new team surrounded by media frenzy, to living in isolation as paparazzi camped out 12 feet from his front door, to realizing his future in football was likely over.

As he writes, "I had no job, no car, no home."

Keep Calm and Stay Focused
All the while, sports announcers and media headlines were blowing up with people happy to see him failing.

"Not everybody can relate to the highs, but almost everybody can relate to the lows," Tebow said. (Screengrab via CBN News)

Through relentless criticism, he managed to keep calm and remain focused.

"When you believe in yourself and you believe you're doing the right thing and you're giving it your all—you have to block out the criticism," Tebow said. "You have to block out the naysayers."

"A lot of times people will say, 'Let it go in one ear and out the other," and I just think don't even let it go in one ear," he continued. "Don't even listen to it. Don't even go on social media; don't read it; don't watch the TV."

"For me, it's stay focused on what your goal is, and don't let the naysayers sway you from your goal," he said.

Going Deeper in Jesus
Tebow addresses his struggles in his new book. He says his prayer for the people who read the book is "that they're encouraged to go find a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ."

"And it's not just the going to church on Sunday morning or Wednesday night," he admonished. "But it's actually a deep relationship, a one-on-one, intimate relationship with a God that loves us so much He sent His Son to die for them."

Tebow opens up a lot in the book, but don't expect any details of his dating life. He did, however, share his philosophy on relationships.

"I think prayer is important. I think having Godly wisdom is important from people that you look up to," he told CBN News.

"I've seen so many people that everything around them is shaken, and they're thinking, 'I don't even know if I'm going to be here tomorrow,'" Tebow said. "And I've seen some of them with such amazing faith that even in the midst of all of that, they still had something to hold on to, and that was their relationship with Christ."

"Let's just love God, and let's love people and let's bring people together," he continued. "How many people can we love in the name of Jesus? How many people can we help in the name of Jesus? That's the goal. Nothing else is the goal. Nothing else matters. That's what matters, plain and simple. And I feel like that's my passion, and I feel like it's my purpose, too."

"When you believe that you serve a big God, and when you believe that He has a plan and a purpose for you, you can walk with confidence and go after what He puts on your heart, and you can do it with boldness and courage, and you can go after it not having to listen to the naysayers," Tebow said.

Tim Tebow may not have seen baseball in his future, but God sure did. With each curve ball life has thrown at him he's continued to trust God's plan for his future, and not let his faith be shaken.

Click here to watch the video or to read this interview in its entirety.