A short review of Being Elisabeth Elliot: Elisabeth’s Later Years, by Ellen Vaughn.
This second book about Elisabeth Elliot’s life is, honestly, not the story I wanted to read. I have long admired Elisabeth Elliot and have devoured many of her writings. My knowledge of her life has been, like most people’s, primarily composed of the story told in the book Through Gates of Splendor and its accompanying news stories and movies. Jim Elliot is martyred and then his wife goes to share the gospel with and live among the people who murdered him. The camera fades upon a scene of her sitting joyfully in the jungle.
So, to read of Elisabeth Elliot’s personal shortcomings, especially in her romantic relationships, was a bit of a shock for me. I was grieved to read of how difficult her third (and by far longest-lasting) marriage was, and especially grieved that she married that third time almost purely for the security of being married.
But, as author Ellen Vaughn notes, Elliot wouldn’t have approved of being placed upon a pedestal. She would’ve been the first to affirm that no one is perfect but Christ alone. And so, perhaps her being knocked from her pedestal is for the best. She was simply a woman. A gifted writer, a dedicated Christian, a woman with much wisdom—but still simply a human with failures like we all have. (I hate to think of someone reading everything I have privately recorded and publishing it for the world to read!)
A Few Thoughts on the Book
I read this book quickly. The writing was compulsively readable. I do recommend it to people who love biography or who want to know more about Elisabeth Elliot. But if you want a purely inspiring read, go instead to Elliot’s older tales.
One thing I wish Ms. Vaughn had done in this book is to place more of Elisabeth’s books within the setting of her life. I think it would have helped to know when she wrote which of her books. However, I realize that many of the books were written in her later life, which was difficult to write about–mostly because her husband burnt her journals from that time.
“Read Christian biographies so you can see the hand of God in all the ups and downs, the sorrows and joys, the perplexities and dangers, the disasters of one individual life. It will help you to trust Him.”
Elisabeth Elliot
Favorite Quotes from Being Elisabeth Elliot
I expected to have a long section of favorite quotes saved from Being Elisabeth Elliot. But the author chose to focus on the little-known interior life of EE instead of her already well-known public writings. So all I have for this section are quotes the author included from sone of Elisabeth’s favorite authors.
For God does not create a longing or a hope without having a fulfilling reality ready for them. But our longing is our pledge, and blessed are the homesick, for they shall come home.
—Isak Dinesen, quoted in Vaughn, Ellen. Being Elisabeth Elliot (p. 277). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
“Whatever befalls us . . . however it befalls us, we must receive as the Will of God. If it befalls us through man’s negligence, or ill will, or anger, still it is, in even the least circumstance, to us the will of God for if the least thing could happen to us without God’s permission, it would be something out of His control. His providence or His love would not be what they are. Almighty God Himself would not be the same God; not the God whom we believe, adore, and love.”
—E. B. Pusey, noted in Elisabeth’s leather notebook of favorite quotes
Vaughn, Ellen. Being Elisabeth Elliot (p. 63). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
“He destroys that he might build; for when He is about to rear His sacred temple in us, He first totally razes that vain and pompous edifice, which human art and power had erected, and from its horrible ruins a new structure is formed, by His power only.”
—Madame Guyon, quoted in Vaughn, Ellen. Being Elisabeth Elliot (p. 71). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Before reading Being Elisabeth Elliot, you’ll want to read Becoming Elisabeth Elliot. (My mini review of that book is HERE.)