My faith is an important part of my life and over the years I've

Bear Grylls once confessed with humility and strength: “My faith is an important part of my life and over the years I’ve learnt that it takes a proud man to say he doesn’t need anything. It has been a quiet strength and a backbone through a lot of difficult times.” In these words lies the wisdom of a man who has faced wilderness, danger, and loneliness, yet found his anchor not in self-sufficiency, but in surrender to something greater than himself. They are words that strip away the illusion of pride and reveal the deeper truth: that dependence on faith is not weakness, but strength hidden in humility.

The ancients knew this truth well. The Greeks admired cunning and courage, yet even their greatest heroes called upon the gods when their own strength failed. Odysseus, though brilliant, bowed his head to Athena for guidance. The Hebrews, wandering in deserts, endured not by their own hand alone but by trust in the Eternal. Grylls echoes this lineage: that man is not made to walk alone, and that those who declare they need nothing are often the most fragile of all. To admit need is to stand in truth; to cloak oneself in pride is to build a house on sand.

When Grylls speaks of a quiet strength, he names something precious. This is not the noisy bravado of the world, not the thundering boast of the strongman, but a steady flame that does not waver in the storm. It is the strength of a soul that has weathered defeat, endured cold nights and harsh winds, and found that faith remains when all else has failed. Quiet strength is greater than outward show, for it endures unseen, carrying a man through when the world cannot see his struggle.

History bears witness to this hidden backbone. Consider Nelson Mandela, who endured decades of imprisonment. What sustained him was not worldly power, for he had none, but the inner conviction that justice and dignity would one day prevail. His strength was not loud, but it was unbreakable, and it carried him to triumph. Likewise, Grylls speaks of his faith as that backbone: unseen by the world, yet upholding him when danger and despair pressed heavily upon his shoulders.

The mention of difficult times is no exaggeration. Grylls, an adventurer, soldier, and survivor, has faced broken bones, hostile terrains, and near-death experiences. Yet even in such peril, he testifies that it was not his body alone that saved him, but his spirit fortified by faith. This is a lesson for all: that in the trials of our lives—whether illness, grief, betrayal, or fear—it is not prideful denial that sustains us, but humility, trust, and the strength that flows from beyond ourselves.

The lesson is clear: cast aside the lie that strength means needing no one. True power lies in knowing where your help comes from, in leaning upon faith, in standing firm with humility. In your own life, this means acknowledging your need for support, whether from God, from family, or from friends. It means nurturing your inner flame through prayer, reflection, and gratitude, so that when trials come, you do not crumble, but endure with dignity.

So let Grylls’s words be a teaching for the generations: pride may shout, but it is faith that endures; self-reliance may dazzle, but it is humility that saves. Build within yourself that quiet strength—the unshakable backbone of faith—and you will walk through storms with peace. And when others see you stand tall in adversity, they too will learn that to admit need is not to confess weakness, but to discover the truest source of strength.