Christian professional athlete Tim Tebow has had a lot of encouraging words over the years for his many fans.
In his latest video, he offers advice on how to respond to the critics and naysayers in life.
In today’s often negative “pile on” culture, it’s never been more important to know how as Christians we are to respond when the pressure is on.
Hear his advice for yourself:
Tim Tebow has had his share of ups and downs in his career.
In college football, playing quarterback for the Florida Gators, Tebow won the Heisman Trophy, the highest honor for college football quarterbacks.
He went on to be drafted into the NFL by the Denver Broncos where his career didn’t quite take off the way he might have hoped. He was traded to the New York Jets, then to the New England Patriots, and finally ending his career playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.
After retiring from the NFL, he worked as a TV sports analyst until a few years ago when he began to express interest in playing Major League Baseball.
He pursued that dream despite many critic and naysayers who said he wouldn’t succeed.
In a recent press conference, Tebow was asked how he responds to such critics (scroll down to see the video for yourself):
“It’s really trying to keep perspective and not letting other people define you because they sure do want to,” Tebow said.
“Shoot, I try to encourage young people all the time to not let the world or other people — outside sources — define you because you are always going to have critics and naysayers and people that are going to tell you that you won’t, that you can’t, that you shouldn’t. Most of those people are the people that didn’t, that wouldn’t, that couldn’t.”
“Don’t be defined by outside sources,” Tebow added.
“You go after your dreams. Succeeding or failing is not making it to the bigs or it’s not necessarily fulfilling that. It’s having to not live with regret because I didn’t try. I just feel for all the young people that don’t go after something because they are so afraid of failing that you are going to live with a lot more regret than if you would have if you tried and you failed. I’m very passionate about that.”
“I think the reason people don’t go after things is because how much you will be criticized,” Tebow said.
“What if I fall flat on my face? Fear and doubt and all these things creep in. I just don’t believe that is the healthiest way to live. I don’t want to have to live with fear or doubt every day, regardless of what everybody here says about me. It doesn’t define me.
“I’m grateful that doesn’t define me,” he concluded.
“There is one thing that defines me and that’s what God says about me. Besides that, I get to go live out my dreams and try to help as many people along the way as possible.”
SNY sports reporter Steve Gelbs posted the video on Twitter:
“You’re always going to have critics and naysayers and people that are going to tell you that you won’t, that you can’t, that you shouldn’t. Most of those people are the people that didn’t, that wouldn’t, that couldn’t.”
Baseball aside, there’s no doubt he’s an inspirational guy pic.twitter.com/FDTwUuKXI2
— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) February 16, 2019
It has since gone viral, being viewed over 5 million times.
So is there something in your life that fear is keeping you from?
Do you have a dream or a goal but the critics and naysayers have kept you from stepping out of your comfort zone?
Take Tim Tebow’s advice. The only opinion that truly matters is that of God’s. And God loves you and is there for you and will be with you when you step out in faith into something new.
And succeed or fail, God will still love you and will still be there for you no matter what.
So go do it!
