Tim Tebow on Helping Your Kids Find an Unshakeable Faith

I’m grateful for the life experiences I’ve had—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Sure, I’ve had my ups and downs. As I’ve done things a little bit differently, the world has tried to force me onto a roller coaster of identities. It has tried to tell me who I am based on my circumstances.

Was my identity found in the highs when I won the Heisman Trophy or later when the Denver Broncos were making a playoff run? No. Was my identity found when, a year later, I was cut from the team? No.

When I’m on top of my game, it seems everyone loves and respects me. But when I’m at the bottom of the heap, I get criticized and torn down. You know what I’ve learned through all this? How important it is not to allow either the highs or the lows in life to determine who you are.

It’s tempting for kids today to measure their worth by what can be seen on the outside—by how they look, by how athletic they are, by how much money their parents have, by what others say about them. The list is long. Even worse, kids today are judging their measure by the number of likes and comments on a social media post.

In my new book Shaken: Young Reader’s Edition, I challenge kids to think about who they are when everything is going great—when they’re acing their classes, when they’re winning the games, when they’re part of the “in” crowd, when their home life is picture perfect. Then I ask them to think about who they are when their world is shaken—when they barely pass their exams, when they don’t make the team, when their parents are fighting like crazy, when their boyfriend or girlfriend just broke up with them, when they just can’t push that sadness away.

Sometimes it takes a challenging time for kids (and adults) to find out who they really are.

While many know about my career highs, few know the details about the lows. Like having to learn that God’s plans are better and bigger than mine. Or feeling torn about the future. Or dealing with my dreams being shattered after getting cut from three NFL teams. I admit, writing this book wasn’t easy. It was tough to relive some painful moments. But I’m so grateful to share with you and your kids what I’ve learned. I’ve realized that who I am has nothing to do with wins or losses, praise or rejection. It has to do with whose I am—whom I belong to. Knowing this, I can live out what a king from ancient Israel wrote in Psalm 16:8:

I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (NASB)

I pray that when your kids read this book it will strengthen their faith, give them hope, and shine light in their dark places.

To help encourage your kids, I’ve put together a book report contest where they can submit a book report and enter to win a Skype call with me and a signed bat.

Every kid that enters will get a pretty cool sticker. You can find more information, including flyers for parents and teachers, at TimTebow.com/Shaken.

God Bless,

Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow is currently signed to play professional baseball with the New York Mets and is a college football analyst for the SEC Network. Tebow also contributes to a variety of ESPN platforms including SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, and the network’s Heisman Trophy coverage. He is active in a variety of philanthropic activities through his Tim Tebow Foundation.