Foreword by Nick Foles
Foreword
I grew up in a household where we went to church most Sundays. I checked all the boxes of what I thought a Christian should be. I believed in God, a power greater than myself. I had a faith, but no foundation for my faith. It was more of an influence from my mom and was just familiar to me. It wasn’t until my first year of college at Michigan State that I had an experience that changed everything for me. My faith became personal to me and my relationship with Christ continues to transform me today.
In 2007, I moved up north to East Lansing, Michigan. I had just had my throwing shoulder surgically repaired, which was a relief, but a long road to recovery lay ahead. In addition to a completely new life and mental adjustment, I had several other things going on that were difficult to handle. One day in a parking garage, alone and confused, I realized I could not do any of it on my own. I began to cry, and in that moment, something amazing happened. I prayed to God, “I don’t know what is happening or why, but I trust You. I don’t know why I am in Michigan, but I trust You. I give everything to You, Lord. Guide me.” I surrendered my life to Christ. My life did not take a magical turn where everything was perfect, but my entire perspective shifted, and I began to live differently.
That challenging time and moment of vulnerability gave me the strength to get where I am today. From then on, my faith moved to the forefront of every decision I made and was at the heart of how I dealt with adversity. I faced many more challenges, but like a muscle, the stronger my faith grew, the better I became at dealing with the circumstances that rocked me. Even in my greatest moments, when most people assumed my life was perfect, I shared truthfully that it was not perfect, but there was a reason for it all.
Fast-forward to February 4, 2018, when I quarterbacked for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. We beat the New England Patriots 41–33 to secure the Eagles’ first-ever Super Bowl victory. Following the game, I hoisted the Lombardi Trophy and accepted the Super Bowl MVP honors in disbelief at what was happening. This was one of the greatest moments an athlete could experience! There was no doubt that I felt an immense sense of joy—looking at my teammates and their families’ faces and recalling the journey it took us all to get there. I felt incredibly grateful to be holding my daughter and standing with my wife onstage, knowing they were more important to me than any victory. Most would think that total fulfillment would be found in this moment. Yet, how many times do we hear how empty someone can still feel after a huge accomplishment. They often think that there must be more than what they are experiencing.
The following morning in a press conference, everyone wanted to hear what it felt like to be the Super Bowl MVP. My thoughts kind of shifted to how fulfilled I already was without the trophy or the victory. I began to think of all the challenging times that had shaped me, and my answer that resonated with many was, “If something is going on in your life where you are struggling, embrace it because you are growing.” I realized right then and there that this was not about the trophy or the win, but about what the Lord had done in my life and the responsibility and platform I was about to have to share His love with others. My moment of true fulfillment was born in East Lansing ten years earlier. That was the moment I was truly fulfilled with the love of Christ and the solid foundation on which I could move forward.
Standing at the podium, there was so much I wanted to convey to everyone who was watching. This victory was not my life and did not complete me. It was the brutal experiences along the way that had allowed me to be where I was and the love of Christ that had brought me to that point of victory. This is the truth we need to be sure our teens are hearing at every possible opportunity.
We live in a day and age where people put on facades, especially our teens. They want to appear perfect with everything under control, yet with all the pressures, almost everyone deals with some type of anxiety or depression at some point in his or her life. Jim and Sean do a great job sharing how to first connect with younger generations and then help them through these obstacles. My prayer is that So the Next Generation Will Know may impact countless people so all generations can communicate with each other effectively and go through life knowing Christ and His truth.
Nick Foles
NFL quarterback, MVP of Super Bowl LII, and author of Believe It: My Journey of Success, Failure, and Overcoming the Odds