Suffering 3

Elisabeth Elliott was a missionary, author, and speaker. In fact, she wrote A Chance to Die, my favorite biography of Amy Carmichael’s life. She was a strong woman of faith who worked to honor the will of God in her life even as a young woman.

She met her first husband, Jim Elliott, while in college and their relationship was quite different from the usual dating to marriage that is common in last century. The story of their courtship and marriage is recorded in her book, Passion and Purity. First separately, and then together, Jim and Elisabeth ministered as missionaries in Ecuador to the Quechuan Natives, and then to the Acua, now called the Waodani Natives of the Ecuador jungle.

Jim, one of four missionaries had decided to take the gospel to the Acua, a known hostile group, headhunters, and in 1956 flew their small plane and landed on a beach near the tribes known location. They were greeted with warriors and spears and became martyrs that day.

Elisabeth was left with their 10-month-old daughter, only three years of marriage behind her, and a call to continue to minister in Ecuador. Only two years after the murder of her husband, she brought the gospel to the very people who killed Jim. Through her forgiveness and love they came to know Christ and peace. The tribe to this day is Christian and even the men whose spears pierced her husband’s body came to Christ. The 2005 film, End of the Spear documents their life and change.

The anger and hurt, the confusion and desire for revenge existed for Elisabeth, just as it would for any of us. She was not a superhuman. She simply learned that she needed to press into Jesus and trust him with her hurt, her life, and the death of her husband. Her forgiveness is an example of what Jesus can do in the midst of our worst suffering if we hang on to him.

This part of Elisabeth’s life is well known and well documented. What many don’t know is she married again in 1969 and then lost her second husband, Addison Leitch to cancer four years later. She suffered deep loneliness yet, never turned from the Lord.

If you are interested in knowing more Elisabeth has a wealth of books, The Path of Loneliness, Shadow of the Almighty, Suffering is Never for Nothing, and Through Gates of Splendor are a few to consider.

I admire this woman, her faith, and her ability to see the Lord in the middle of tragedy. It was through her book, A Chance to Die, that I found my prayer and desire for my daughter, Amy, fueled. Elisabeth went to be with Jesus in July, 2015 after suffering dementia for some time. Her story and suffering here was complete. Yet, her faithful testimony still calls to those of us who experience the worst life has to offer.

Next time we will look at one more Christian woman who was an example of holding on to Jesus through trauma and tragedy, Cory ten Boom. Blessings.