Elisabeth Elliot’s global renown comes from her decision to return to serve the Ecuadorian tribe who murdered her young evangelist husband, Jim. But God had been preparing Elisabeth’s heart for Him from well before that, and He used her in different ways all her life long.

Elisabeth’s parents were missionaries themselves, and so her experience of that way of life touched her heart from an early age. The discussion narrated between her and her mother about how ordinary missionaries are, and yet the flowery language often used to talk about them, struck a chord even now, many decades later. For Elisabeth, serving God was simply what was to be done, whether in South America or a comfortable home in the USA.

That’s not to downplay the incredible courage it took to return to the Waorani after Jim’s brutal death. Elisabeth, along with baby Valerie, returned to a people who had only rejected their overtures and their Saviour, and by her willingness to live life with them, helped them open their hearts to Jesus.

The rest of Elisabeth’s life, whilst perhaps less high profile, is still a compelling story of God’s faithfulness and one woman’s commitment to serving Him every day, in whatever way He asks. Not everyone is called to a remote and hostile tribe in a sticky jungle. But we are all called to seek God’s will for our lives each day. Elisabeth’s life is an encouraging example of one woman who did just that.

To get the full picture of the Elliots’ life, you should also read Irene Howat’s ‘Jim Elliot: He Is No Fool’.

Both of these Trailblazers are part of the ‘Americans’ boxset.

Miriam Montgomery, Free Church Books