By Kayla DeKraker
Should we fear doubt? Adventure man Bear Grylls lives a life of faith, but he also knows what it’s like to struggle with spiritual uncertainty.
“You actually can’t have faith without doubt,” Grylls told Premier Christianity’s Sam Hailes earlier this summer.
When faced with faith questions like “Is the whole thing crazy…? Is it actually real?” and “What’s the point in dedicating your life to something if it’s not real?” he turns to the Bible.
“The cool thing I read yesterday is that even John the Baptist” struggled with doubt, he said.
He called John “a huge hero of mine,” adding that he and Jesus were “the closest of brothers, you know, first cousin to Jesus. When their moms were pregnant, the babies [were] kicking whenever Jesus and Mary came near.”
Grylls continued, “He knew from the beginning who Jesus was…His whole life was just dedicated, like, ‘I’m paving the way, there’s one coming who’s greater.’”
But despite knowing Jesus personally and being related to him, John doubted that Jesus really was who He claimed to be.
“He eventually comes and baptizes Him and all…when John is eventually imprisoned, the message he sends his disciples [is] ‘Go and ask Jesus… are you really it?’” Grylls reflected.
He added, “He grew up with Jesus. He knows, but yet there’s doubt, and it’s like, that’s beautiful.”
John the Baptist wasn’t the only one close to Jesus who dealt with doubt. His disciple Thomas did, too.
“Thomas is always known as doubting Thomas, isn’t he? But it’s like actually his faith must have been incredible…we’re all doubters,” Grylls said.
In John 20:27, Jesus says to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Related: Bear Grylls Baptized in Jordan River: ‘Always a Dream of Mine’
Grylls said, “They don’t call John the Baptist John the doubter, but he could have been. All of us could be. So, I find that reassuring.”
Grylls frequently uses his platform to share the gospel, taking what he learns from the Bible to inspire others. In a recent post, he encouraged his followers to “Build like Noah. Fight like David. Lead like Moses. Love like Jesus.”
He also released his book titled
“My dream is that every person on the planet gets introduced to this true, life-changing story of love, courage, sacrifice and rescue,” he wrote on Instagram of his goal for the book.
Let Grylls’ insights about faith encourage you that if you struggle with doubt, you’re in good company. Doubt is a part of the process, and facing them with God’s help grows and strengthens our faith.
Read Next: What Sparked Adventure Enthusiast Bear Grylls’ Faith?
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
- Content: +2Share:
- Content: +2