Being Elisabeth Elliot

The Authorized Biography: Elisabeth’s Later Years

By: Ellen Vaughn

Narrated by: Connie Shabshab

Elisabeth Elliot was a young missionary in Ecuador when members of a remote Amazonian indigenous people group killed her husband Jim and his four colleagues. And yet, she stayed in the jungle with her young daughter to minister to the very people who had thrown the spears, demonstrating the power of Christ’s forgiveness.

This courageous, no-nonsense Christian went on to write dozens of books, host a long-running radio show, and speak at conferences all over the world. She was a pillar of coherent, committed faith—a beloved and sometimes controversial icon. And while things in the limelight might have looked golden, her suffering continued refining her in many different and unexpected ways.

Her early years, related in Becoming Elisabeth Elliot, traced the transition of a young woman who dealt in “certainties” to the woman who lived with the unknown.

Now, being Elisabeth Elliot increasingly meant confronting how much she did not understand. She sought her reference point beyond her own experiences, always pondering what she called the “impenetrable mystery” of the interplay between God’s will and human choices.

And it is that strange mystery which shaped the rest of her startling life story.

©2023 Ellen Vaughn (P)2023 B&H Publishing

An honest portrait of an exceptional yet very normal and flawed Elizabeth Elliot.

This book was interesting from beginning to end. This is the story of Elizabeth’s life, so much more than just the words from her diaries. The author keeps the story of Elizabeth Elliot honest without trying to sensationalize her story. Elizabeth was a flawed human being who was used by God to touch many people’s lives for the better. I hope this book about her life touches even more.

Vaughn States the Truth in Love

Thankful for an accurate representation of the post-Jim part of EE’s life. No one is perfect and I’m glad to know EE had struggles just like the rest of us.

Wonderful

This was done so well, thank you for giving just the right insight into EE’s life.

A beautiful and heart wrenching testimony

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more about Elisabeth Elliot, especially in her later years. I think Ellen Vaughn did an amazing job staying truthful to everything that Elisabeth experienced in her life and appreciated that the book didn’t end with a “nice Christian bow” but showed the beautiful and hard times of Elisabeth endured. A must read for everyone but especially for those that have placed Elisabeth on a pedestal - because as in her own words, “pedestals are for statues” and Elisabeth was a beautiful and ordinary woman who faithfully followed God.

Somewhat surprising

I will admit that I was super excited, and then somewhat disillusioned when I first started this book. Some of it didn’t feel like it rang true to what I knew of Elizabeth by listening to countless hours of her lectures, and through the reading her books. For those of you may feel the same way I would encourage you to finish the book. Sometimes we forget that there is a beginning to someone’s story, and that it takes years of sanctification before we see all of the gold that comes through refining.

The Real Deal

Big Fan of Elizabeth Elliot! She was a truth seeker and I believe the truth she found was mostly spot on. The author did a great job with writing and researching. She did a wonderful job inserting her own experiences in appropriate ways.

Solid!

Enjoyed the “Bining Elizabeth Elliot” Very interesting life! Overall recommend reading for all her fans. Thanks

The reader has an incredible voice!

This book was absolutely amazing! I could relate to so much of it, and appreciate all of Elisabeth’s strengths and weaknesses. I’m grateful she was for truth, and so the author was, too. The reader has an incredible voice and made listening to this book very enjoyable. 😍

Loved

The readers voice is slightly grating but what a thought provoking book filled with quotes from journal entries.

For others who have considered EE your spiritual mother

This story was not what I e pecked yet I am grateful for the truth. How difficult it must have been to write! Throughout the book I was afraid my heroine would topple but she did not. EE was a complex person who endured more suffering than I realized. I am still in awe of her legacy.