Shaken

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • ECPA BESTSELLER • Who are you when life is steady? Who are you when storms come?
 
“With this book, Tim encourages readers to keep moving and stay strong while battling life’s obstacles.”—Cam Newton, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers
 
Most of us have been on the receiving end of rejection, a broken dream, or heartbreak. And while this is not an easy space to go through, when we are grounded in the truth, we can endure the tough times.
 
In this powerful book, Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow passionately shares glimpses of his journey staying grounded in the face of disappointment, criticism, and intense media scrutiny.
 
Tebow talks about what he’s learned along the way, building confidence in his identity in God, not the world. This moving book also features practical wisdom from Scripture and insights gained from others who have impacted him in life-changing ways.

“Tim Tebow is not an athlete—athlete is what Tim fills in on his tax return. That does not begin to tell the story of who he is. Tim is a role model, an inspiration to those who have a dream and are willing to accept life as a journey full of ups and downs.”—Jon Bon Jovi, singer-songwriter

“Shaken shows us a side of Tim Tebow that we’ve never gotten to see before. In this book, Tim comes alongside his reader and says, ‘I’ve been there too,’ and proceeds to show us how God is faithful even when our entire lives feel shaken to the core.”—Mark Batterson, pastor and New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker

“Whether or not you’ve followed Tim’s career, Shaken speaks to something we’ve all had to deal with—trusting God when the plans for our lives don’t work out as we expected. Tim shares his journey from the Broncos to the Jets to the Patriots and beyond with refreshing honesty. He comes alongside us as a friend and gives us hope for the days our lives take an unexpected turn. I am so grateful to call Tim my friend; his life and passion constantly inspire me! Whatever Tim does he does with all his heart, and this book reflects that incredible commitment! I love Tim, and by the end of this book, you will too!”—Judah Smith, lead pastor of the City Church and New York Times bestselling author of Jesus Is _______.

“Shaken is everyone’s story. All of us know what it is to experience the best of days and the lowest of days. For Tim, he’s lived those days in public. I have the privilege to call Tim my friend and can tell you that with him, what you see is what you get, which seems rare these days! I appreciate how real and raw Tim is with his own struggles. In Shaken you will find great encouragement for your own life and faith.”—Chris Tomlin, worship leader and songwriter

“All readers will be won over by Tebow’s dedication and perseverance, and admire him for staying true to service-oriented Christianity through a quite unconventional life.”—Publishers Weekly

“I really got so much out of reading your book.”—Robin Roberts, during a Good Morning America interview with Tim Tebow

“Tim Tebow Has A New Book Out And It Is A Must-Read.”—The Daily Caller

“It was like having an encouraging chat with a dear friend—I finished feeling so hopeful!”—First for Women Magazine Tim Tebow is a two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner, first-round NFL draft pick, and a former professional baseball player. Tebow currently serves as a speaker, a college football analyst with ESPN and the SEC Network, and is the author of four New York Times bestsellers, including Shaken, This Is the Day, and the children’s book Bronco and Friends: A Party to Remember. He is the founder and leader of the Tim Tebow Foundation (TTF) whose mission is to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. Tim is married to Demi-Leigh Tebow (née Nel-Peters), a South African model and Miss Universe 2017. Tim and Demi live in Jacksonville, Florida, with their three dogs, Chunk, Kobe, and Paris.
 
A.J. Gregory is known for more than thirty-five book collaborations, some New York Times bestsellers, with fascinating high-profile figures from celebrities to scientists. She is also the author of two books, Messy Faith and Silent Savior, which chronicle finding faith in the middle of unavoidable and sometimes harsh realities. A.J., her husband, and three kids call New Jersey home.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 dif- ferently, the world has tried to force me onto a roller coaster of identities, defining me by my circumstances and not who I really am.

Was my identity found in the highs when I won the Heisman and later when the Denver Broncos were making a play-off run? No. Was my identity found when, a year later, I was cut? No.

One day, according to the world, I’m on top of my game, adored, praised, and respected. And the next, I’m at the bottom of the heap, cut, criticized, and torn down. You know what I’ve learned in the process? How important it is not to allow either the highs or the lows in life to determine who you are.

It’s tempting to define ourselves or to measure our worth by the external—by how much money we have, by how we look, by the applause of others. The list is long. Think about this. Who are you when everything is going great—when the money is in the bank, when your home life is peaceful, when your future seems certain? And who are you when your world is shaken—when your bank account is overdrawn, when your relationship is on the fritz, when you haven’t a clue what tomorrow holds? Sometimes it takes a challenging time to really find out.

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, feeling torn about the future, and working through my dreams being shattered after getting cut from three NFL teams. I admit, writing this book hasn’t been easy. It was tough to relive some painful moments. But I’ll say that in those places of doubt and even of darkness, I’ve realized that who I am has nothing to do with wins or losses, applause, or negative criticism. It has to do with whose I am. Knowing this, I can live out what the king of 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.
 
While in this book I share parts of my personal life and football journey in the NFL, this is not a memoir. It’s about the truth I’ve discovered along the way. And, it’s also about some amazing people I’ve been inspired by in life as well as through our foundation’s W15H (pronounced “wish”) outreach pro- gram. Though our mission is to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need, they have, without fail, given those very things to me. While I wish I could tell you about every single child and family I’ve met who has inspired me, I’m excited to be able to share a few stories with you.

Here’s what you can expect to find in this book. The first seven chapters will reveal some of the lows I’ve experienced, glimpses into my life and parts of myself that I’ve never shared publicly. They’ll also uncover the lessons I’ve learned through that time, like what it means to stay grounded in the face of doubt, fear, and criticism; why others matter; and how our objective in life is not to be like everyone else.
The final three chapters move in an outward trajectory, focusing on how we can impact others in our journey of faith and purpose. When we are grounded in whose we are, not only can we handle the storms that come, but we can also begin to move forward in a more purposeful direction. We can begin to live in a new way. We can impact others even when our circum- stances look bleak. We can use our stories to help others in their own.

Look, I’m not perfect. I’m on a faith journey just like you are. I have good days. I have bad days. Sometimes I get it right. Other days I struggle. I know that when I’m settled in my identity, I live at my best.

While this book doesn’t offer cookie-cutter answers or a concrete plan about what to do when you stand on shaky ground, my prayer is that it strengthens your faith, gives you hope, and shines light on your dark places. My prayer is that after reading this book, you can walk away inspired, armed with courage, ready to tackle life, and make a difference.IT

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