Ready to Overcome Trauma?
Demi Tebow on Finding Purpose through Pain
Demi Tebow’s life took a sharp turn one day when she was carjacked at gunpoint in broad daylight in South Africa. Her journey of overcoming that trauma, particularly a terrifying carjacking, has inspired her to turn her pain into a platform for helping others.
Demi is an entrepreneur, author of the book “A Crown that Lasts,” speaker, and advocate known for her global success and her strong Christian faith. She and her husband, Tim Tebow support special needs advocacy, including the worldwide “Night to Shine” event, which celebrates individuals with special needs.
Demi shared with the Family Life Radio morning show how surviving a violent carjacking in South Africa changed her life forever. Instead of letting the trauma define her, she chose to use it as fuel for advocating for women and children worldwide.
Carjacked at Gunpoint
“Growing up in South Africa, violence—especially against women and children— unfortunately was something that we heard about on a daily basis,” Demi explained. Despite the precautions her family took, including sending her to safety driving courses and self-defense workshops, nothing could prepare her for the moment her vehicle was surrounded by multiple armed men.
“I had a gun pointing right to my head,” she recalled. In that split second, Demi’s life hung in the balance. But she managed to create a small window of opportunity to escape. “I ran up the avenue, knocking on car window after car window, after car window, with nobody stopping, nobody letting me into their vehicles.”
The smallest act of kindness can change someone’s life.
Can you imagine the terror of running for your life, pleading for help, only to be turned away by one person after another? For Demi, that rejection was almost more traumatizing than the carjacking itself. “People were quite literally shooing me away,” she told us. “They could hear what I was saying; they could see the terror in my eyes, and they chose to do nothing about it.”
The Act of Kindness that Changed Everything
Suddenly, a 19-year-old girl driving a beat-up car finally stopped and let Demi in. “She took me to safety, and I’m so thankful to her for getting me to a safe space that afternoon,” Demi said. But it wasn’t just the act of saving her life that impacted Demi. This young girl taught her that even the smallest act of kindness can change someone’s life.
“She also taught me to never underestimate the ripple effect of goodness that can come from your simple act of obedience,” Demi shared. This young girl’s simple act of bravery ignited Demi’s healing and transformation. Demi realized we don’t have to be extraordinary to make a difference. We just need to show up and be willing to help in whatever way we can.
“That incident served as a catalyst for me learning about the evils that women face all around the world,” Demi explained. Her traumatic experience awakened a deep sense of responsibility in Demi to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.
Since then, Demi has become a passionate advocate for women and children. “Today, I’m sitting here as a board member of various organizations that serve survivors of human trafficking,” she said proudly. “It’s truly one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Her work in this area goes far beyond awareness; it’s about real change. Demi believes we all have a role to play in fighting these global injustices, whether through large-scale advocacy or small acts of kindness that ripple into something greater.
If you’ve experienced trauma or hardship: you can turn your pain into purpose.
How You Can Turn Pain into Purpose
“Don’t underestimate the ripple effect of goodness that can come from your simple act of obedience,” Demi urged. Whether you’ve been through something big or small, your experiences can help others.
You don’t need to have a public platform like Demi to make a difference. The young girl who helped Demi didn’t have much, but she had the courage to do what others wouldn’t. And that made all the difference.
Today, Demi is using her platform to be a voice for women and children who face violence and exploitation worldwide. “I believe God allows us to go through things so that we can comfort others,” Demi said. And that belief drives everything she does.
“You can use your pain for a greater purpose,” Demi reminds us. And as her life shows, sometimes the greatest healing comes when we focus not on ourselves but on how we can serve the people around us.
More on this topic is available in Demi’s recently released book, “A Crown that Lasts: You Are Not Your Label.”
Need Someone to Pray With?
If you’re longing for a more personal connection or need someone to talk to about your faith journey, our live chat and call features are here for you. Reach out, and find a compassionate listener on the other side, ready to pray with you and for you. CALL OR TEXT this number and reach a prayer chaplain: 888-988-5520.
Our interactive prayer wall is a place of community and support. Here, you can share your prayer requests, pray for others, and experience the power of prayer together. Whether you’re seeking comfort, guidance or want to express gratitude, you’re not alone.
Family Life Radio is listener supported. Those who listen give to make the music and content possible to shine God’s love, peace and encouragement into hearts, revealing truths that direct people in the way they should go.
If you feel led to give a gift today to help others draw strength, gain wisdom and experience peace through Family Life Radio click here.