The Imperfect Life of Elisabeth Elliot. What Christians Can Learn, with Ellen Vaughn

Elisabeth Elliot ~ "We must quit bending the Word to suit our situation. It is we who must be bent to that Word, our necks that must bow under the yoke."

Any woman who has 3 reasonably happy marriages involving service in very different environments is incredibly amazing.

Thank you for this thought-provoking interview. Ironically, Elisabeth’s second husband was my favorite college professor. He officiated at my marriage and left immediately afterward to get married. He was in such a hurry he forgot to sign our marriage certificate!

Three very different marriages. One thing to be said about her views for submission: she stuck to them even when marriage was hard! Conviction, a rare find.

After my husband and daughter were murdered in 2015, I listened to Elisabeth Elliot constantly. God used her so much in my life! Then she passed away a month later. Thank you for sharing more of her life!

I first found Elisabeth Elliot when gifted her biography of Amy Carmichael - A Chance to Die. I was so encouraged by it that I actually wrote to Elisabeth and thanked her for writing it and she actually wrote me back! I have that little note tucked in the book now. I found her radio show Gateway to Joy somehow and listened as often as I could and subscribed to her newsletters (which are archived online if anyone wants to read them). This interview was a blessing and I've ordered Ellen's second book just now (already own the first one). I've also visited the Elisabeth Elliot exhibit at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. - it was much smaller than I imagined, but worth the trip. Her seven-part video series on suffering (Suffering is Not for Nothing found here on YouTube) has been enormously helpful as I have navigated a very heartbreaking situation in my life and I highly recommend it to anyone going through deep, painful loss.

I got to meet Elizabeth Elliott at Urbana 84 conference. I went to a workshop she held. I rode the elevator and walked to the conference with her. She was so gracious to me. She asked questions about my work in Scotland. I was very nearly awestruck spending time alone with her. It was like meeting a member of the Royal family.

Elisabeth Elliot had/has a massive influence on my life. For over 4 decades she blessed me, encouraged me and corrected me. I see her as one of my spiritual mothers.

I loved the discussion of God using suffering. This is rejected by so much of Christiandom today and yet, God uses it for our refining. Such good discussion!

doesn't everyone agree that she was simply an introvert?? i don't like the terms describing her as cold or short or unfriendly. She was direct and to the point. To me, the overly emotional, touchy feely, type of person leaves me stone cold!

I was scared to watch this as I really dislike interviews seeming to slander the deceased, who obviously cannot defend themselves. However, this was helpful, respectful & hope filled. Thanks for the interview!

The comment that really stuck with me from this interview was “There is a straight edge to her determination to follow Christ that I think is sometimes missing among many in our egocentric ego feeling culture.” I’m so thankful for EE. She kept my head on straight when I didn’t “feel” like God was delivering what He promised. I needed that straight edge that was EE. Though she was dead, she saved me from “feelings” that were so against the Word of God. “Feelings” and offenses have Overtaken this modern day. EE ket my head on straight when I was reeling from a diagnosis that I knew was possibly going to take my life. We MUST submit to the mind of Christ and realize this: No matter the outcome of my life, He is God. He is sovereign. Like Job we must realize that a shallow relationship with God is only knowing God by the hearing of the ear. But through the suffering of Job, he said, “Now mine eye (seeth) Thee!” I’m getting so close to God that I’m now seeing Him and it’s no longer someone telling me what God (can) do… but I’m seeing the depth of the Creator, The Master, the one who causes me to lay my hand over my own mouth because I realize I am in no position to judge God.

I believe with all my heart that the Lord ALWAYS answers prayer , just not in the way WE want all the time. He will say yes, no and wait. He is ALWAYS good and ALWAYS the perfect father. He will give us what we need and our desires as long as our desires line up with His will.

I found Elisabeth like 6 yrs ago and couldn’t stop listening to her I love her precious voice but God talk to me through her I have the first book, hope to get the second. I still listen her program here in YouTube. Thank you Alissa love your channel ♥️

Thanks so much for this interview! I have been a big admirer of EE for most of my Christian life, so I thought I knew a lot about her till I read Becoming Elisabeth Elliot. Ellen Vaughn did a magnificent job with a story that some people idolized but that truly was the story of an exceptional but imperfect woman who wanted to please the Lord with everything she had. I ended up treasuring Elisabeth’s story even more and having found a new favorite author in Ellen. ❤

I have been listening to sermon after sermon of Elisabeth Elliot's over that past month. She was so radical for her day! And what she talked about then is so pertinent to the present day. I have all her books qued to read, starting with Through the Gates of Splendor. My husnand and I have been weaving parts of her seromns into our dauly devotions with our kids. I believe every Christian today should listen to her. Her testimony is incredible. Thank you for posting this!

I had heard her story as a young teenager but first saw her in person when she was the opening speaker at the Urbana 76 conference.She was VERY committed to self-discipline and I shall always remember her phrase "when that alarm clock goes off your feet need to hit the floor!" to which I didn't react well as I had had 2 hrs sleep in the last 36 hrs. She had just married a second time at that point and knew I'd take her message far better once I'd had more sleep. Great memories and much honor for her life of service. I'm glad I found this one tonight as I lost my wife of 37 years 18 months ago and like her first marriage, it was sudden. I managed the first 6 months amazingly well but have since struggled.

I’m a bit skeptical of any author who wrote the Jesus Revolution. No I haven’t read it nor did I see the movie but I lived it and so many got a false sense of salvation and never really accepted Jesus as their savior. That said I loved Elisabeth Elliot and have several of her books and would listen to her on the radio so I’ll listen and hopefully won’t be disappointed. BTW it’s so easy to judge historical figures by today’s standards but Elisabeth lived in a very different time where people trusted what God’s word said even when uncomfortable.

God hear my prayers. The last three years I’ve been struggling. Through my struggles I found Jesus he has carried me this far. So even as I struggle to support my children and myself I trust in you Jesus. Being a single mom things can be hard raising them alone. My husband is with God I miss him dearly. Both of my children are autistic. I started homeschooling them last year and they are now thriving. I also suffered a heart attack two years ago so I’m getting healthier everyday. As I struggle to pay my rent each month and as I struggle to buy groceries. I know God will make a way. Where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see. I have faith! God has not forgotten me. Faith First!

Found Elizabeth during Covid and found her to have such a clear, simplistic. calming faith. She was certainly a blessing in her days on earth and still has impact for the kingdom ❤