Bear Grylls: Faith in Christ 'is the Backbone of My Life' (GLM #161)

He is a British adventurer, writer and television presenter.  He is best known for his television series Man vs. Wild. He is a part of a number of television series in the United Kingdom and the United States on the theme of survival in the wild. In 1997, he became the youngest Briton to climb Ama Dablam in the Himalayas. And in 1998, he became one of the youngest people ever to climb to the summit of Mount Everest. In July 2009, he was appointed the youngest-ever Chief Scout at the age of 35.

In an interview with Relevant Magazine, he said of his faith: "I had a very natural faith as a kid. As a really young kid, I never questioned God. I just knew God existed and it felt like He was my friend. Faith has been and is the backbone of my life."

"I remember having one moment when some really good friends turned their back on me in a really nasty way. And I remember praying a simple prayer up a tree one evening and saying, 'God, if you're like I knew you as a kid, would you be that friend again?' And it was no more complicated than that. And actually the amazing thing is that all God asks is that we sort of open the door and He'll do the rest. So often we kinda hide behind our yearning for love and acceptance with loads of complicated theological questions, and actually once that's stripped away what we really are is just somebody who wants to have that relationship with your Father."

"Jesus never said, 'I've come so you can feel smart and proper and smiley and religious.' [Faith] is about finding life and joy and peace. I am not at church a lot because I'm away a lot, so I kind of cling to the simple things, like, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' and 'I'm holding you by your right hand.' The simple things are what I try to keep my faith like. Jesus is unchanging and we are forgiven."

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