Bear Grylls, the survival expert who climbed Everest and survived in the world’s most dangerous places, says his new book about Jesus has become his greatest achievement.
Childhood faith
Bear had a simple faith as a child. He said, “I always had a really 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.” But when he went to boarding school, everything changed.
The formal religious rules made him lose interest. “It was all about church-going and people telling you not to smoke behind the bike shed… I thought, oh if that’s God, I’ve got the whole kind of deal wrong. And I kind of ditched my faith.”
A Simple Prayer Becomes His Anchor
Then tragedy struck. Bear’s beloved godfather died suddenly. The pain drove him back to God. He climbed into a tree, his secret hideaway, and prayed from his broken heart:
“I remember saying a prayer asking God to be with me… If you’re there, will you please be beside me. Be my friend.”
That simple prayer became an anchor of his faith.
Bear Grylls’ Near-Fatal Parachute Accident
A few years later, while serving with the British military, Bear faced his biggest test. During a parachuting exercise in 1996, his canopy ripped. He fell 16,000 feet and shattered his spine in three places. Doctors said he might never walk again.
During those dark recovery months, Bear learned something powerful: “I’ve learned that it takes a proud man to say that he needs nothing… And I’ve also learned that there aren’t many atheists in the death zone of Everest. I just don’t meet many people who have been through incredible experiences and come out of it totally without faith.”
His Faith Becomes His Strength
His faith became his source of strength. Just 18 months after the accident, he climbed Mount Everest.
Bear explains what his Christian faith means to him: “To me, my Christian faith is all about being held, comforted, forgiven, strengthened, and loved… This really is the heart of what I found… Christ comes to make us free, to bring us life in all its fullness.”
Bear once said, “Faith in Christ has been the great backbone of my life. It’s not about religion; it’s about being loved and forgiven.”
Spending Time with God
Bear starts each day with prayer. He says, “Any strength I do have seems to come in the quiet moments at the start of my day. It comes when I am on my own, on my knees. It comes from taking time to be still with God.”
Bear Grylls’ New Book
Now Bear has written a book called The Greatest Story Ever Told about Jesus. He calls it his “hardest achievement” and the one he’s “most proud of” because it’s “touching people’s lives all over the world.”
Bear worked with theologians to make sure every detail was accurate. The book became a number one bestseller.
Bear’s story reminds us that God meets us in our broken places. We don’t need perfect faith to walk with Him. We just need honest hearts willing to pray, “God, if you’re there, please be beside me.”
Read or Buy Bear Grylls’ The Greatest Story Ever Told on Amazon. (We may earn a small commission if you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our ministry.)
WATCH: Bear Grylls Talks About His Faith and ‘Hardest Achievement’
