Adventurer and television personality Bear Grylls is opening up about the powerful role of Christian faith in his life, calling it his greatest inner transformation.

In a recent column, Grylls reflected on his path through spirituality, describing how belief in Jesus Christ brought him both strength and peace through life's battles, the Christian Post reported.

Grylls, well known for hosting the survival series "Man vs. Wild," shared these insights in a column for The Times titled "To be fully understood, the Christian faith must be tried." The piece, which ran on a Saturday, explored how his relationship with faith shaped him "from the inside out."

A teenage encounter sparked spiritual interest

The 50-year-old adventurer recounted that his path toward Christianity began when he was a teenager. While in school, a visiting vicar made a message that deeply stuck with him, saying that Jesus "came to kill religion and bring life."

This statement struck a chord with Grylls as it contrasted common views of organized religion with the stories he later read about Jesus. He found that while religion can sometimes be seen as a source of conflict, the stories of Jesus seemed to reflect peace, kindness, and redemption.

He continued to examine how Jesus affected the lives of others, stating that every person who encountered Christ, regardless of background, walked away changed in some way.

Early curiosity led to enduring faith

Over the years, Grylls' spiritual connection deepened, and he credits that faith with guiding him through personal and professional challenges. He described Jesus as the steady presence he relies on daily, not just on certain occasions.

“My Christian faith has strengthened me in so many battles I've faced in life,” he said, explaining how his belief gives him resilience in difficult times. Despite this, the TV star admitted that at times, he tried living apart from his faith.

Those seasons, he said, left him feeling empty and ineffective. It was only upon returning to his faith that he felt restored, regaining a sense of power and inner peace that had been missing.

Linking faith with a life of adventure

Grylls drew parallels between his faith and his adventurous lifestyle, stating that both require courage and a willingness to take risks. He emphasized that belief hasn’t made life easier, but it has made it more meaningful.

“To choose to have a faith takes courage,” he said. He added that while the path of belief can often feel harder, it is ultimately more fulfilling in the long run.

He said that the decision to trust in something greater than oneself is humbling, reminding readers that asking for help through prayer is a powerful act of strength, not weakness.

Urging readers to explore faith for themselves

Grylls invited readers to venture into faith personally rather than relying solely on hearing about it from others. He stressed that Christianity, in particular, must be lived out rather than only explained.

He encouraged people to be open to exploring spiritual truths, suggesting that seeking answers is a wise and brave step toward understanding. In his words, “To explore is good. To question is wise. To seek truth is courageous.”

Throughout his life, through deserts, jungles, and mountain summits, faith has been his foundation, he said. It is a daily constant, not a weekly routine, offering both direction and assurance no matter the terrain.

Faith has remained central in recent years

This latest column is not the first instance where Grylls has opened up about his beliefs. In 2019, he published a devotional book titled "Soul Fuel," mixing stories from his adventures with insight into how his faith keeps him grounded.

Last year, he expanded on this theme in a conversation with The Christian Post. Calling Jesus a light on a dark road, Grylls described his faith as a daily necessity in his journey through life's unpredictability.

He also shares his spiritual life with others in personal ways. Grylls has a friendship with actor Russell Brand and took part in Brand’s baptism in the River Thames, a moment of public spiritual celebration.