By Kayla DeKraker
As a survivalist, Bear Grylls knows what it takes to be physically strong, but as a Christian, he realizes that spiritual strength is even more important.
“It’s part of our calling in life, all of us, to live strong, empowered effective lives,” Grylls recently told Premier Christianity’s Sam Hailes. “I don’t think it’s about gender, it’s like, how do you live a great life? You got to be determined, you got to be tough, you got to have a kind of streak of steel, but you’ve also got to be respectful and kind and gentle and sensitive.”
Grylls explained that the greatest sign of strength is to kneel before God.
“You can only speak for yourself, but that’s how I want to live my life, and faith is part of that arsenal, you know? It’s like that quote: ‘A man is never as tall as when he kneels down.’”
He added that strength doesn’t always look strong. Sometimes it looks like being humble.
“There’s a kind of humility [that’s] a strength. Vulnerability is a strength, you know? Jesus’ humility is a strength. Vulnerability is a strength,” he said.
Ultimately, Jesus is the best example of how to be a good person who is both strong and loving.
“How to be a great human being — you’re not going to get a better example in terms of…strength and humility and love,” Grylls said. “And love has to be in there — whoever you are, however strong of a person you want to be, you know? If you really want to be, love has to be there, and love isn’t weak.”
He added, “It’s like, we are called to be — all of us — called to be warriors. Doesn’t mean you always have to use it, but you got to have that strength, and where are you going to draw that strength from?”
Strength has to come from God, not from ourselves.
Related: Bear Grylls Reveals Why Faith is His “Greatest Adventure”
“If you’re only going to draw it from yourself, I’m telling you you’re not going to be that strong,” Grylls said. “That’s a beating heart of faith for me is, like, I want to live a strong life and therefore I want to plug into the source.”
He added, “Use that strength wisely.”
Grylls has used his God-given strength to conquer many adventures, but his greatest feat? Writing his new book The Greatest Story Ever Told.
“It’s the proudest thing in my work world I’ve ever done,” he said of his book. “I would give up everything — every summit, every Emmy — it pales into insignificance compared to this because it’s history, it’s his-story.”
Isaiah 40:31 reminds us, “But those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.”
We can follow Grylls’ example and know that true strength is only found through our trust in and dependence on God.
Read Next: How Bear Grylls’ Faith Sustained Him Throughout His Career
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