40 Inspiring Quotes from Elisabeth Elliot

Debbie McDaniel

Who was Elisabeth Elliot?

Brave. Inspiring. Loving. Strong. Wise. Determined. Faith-filled. Authentic. These are words that only begin to describe much-loved missionary and author Elisabeth Elliot who, for half a century, made an impact in our world through the amazing stories of her life and experiences. On June 15, 2015, she stepped “Through Gates of Splendor,” right into heaven, but her words and influence remain. They go on living. They keep on inspiring. They will remain, challenging us to live out love-saturated lives, to trust in God’s unfailing hope, no matter what struggles or loss we may face in this world.

Many of us came to know of Elisabeth Elliot through her story and work with the Auca Indians. Even after her own husband and 4 other missionaries were tragically killed at their hands, in the midst of her own grief, she chose to stay, to share the greatest gift of all with a people who didn’t yet know - the truth of Jesus Christ.

Her deep wisdom came with the cost of journeying through great pain in this life, yet many of us have gleaned amazing nuggets of truth from her experiences. Evidence still that God uses all we walk through in this world for greater purposes and good, more than we could possibly ever imagine.

Certain themes that permeate the writings of Elisabeth Elliot are those things we still need reminding of in all that we face in our world today – God’s all-encompassing love, finding joy in the midst of sorrow, faith, contentment, courage, and hope.

40 Inspiring Quotes by Elisabeth Elliot:

“The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”
“There is nothing worth living for, unless it is worth dying for.”
“Leave it all in the Hands that were wounded for you.”
“You can never lose what you have offered to Christ.”
“The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be. It may seem to be much worse, but in the end it’s going to be a lot better and a lot bigger.”
“By trying to grab fulfillment everywhere, we find it nowhere.”
“Don’t dig up in doubt what you planted in faith.”
“The devil has made it his business to monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry, crowds. He will not allow quietness.”
“Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God’s story never ends with ‘ashes.’”
“God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don’t have now, we don’t need now.”
“It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while he is the end of our journey, he is also at every stopping place.”
“Failure means nothing now, only that it taught me life.”
“God never denies us our hearts desire except to give us something better.”
“Fear arises when we imagine that everything depends on us.”
“The world cries for men who are strong, strong in conviction, strong to lead, to stand, to suffer."
“We cannot give our hearts to God and keep our bodies to ourselves.”
“The fact that I’m a woman doesn’t make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I’m a Christian does make me a different kind of woman.”
“God’s work done in God’s way never lacks God’s supply.”
“If all struggles and sufferings were eliminated, the spirit would no more reach maturity than would the child.”
“When you don’t know what to do next, just do the thing in front of you.”
“…the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by his letting us have our way in the end, but by his making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly pray what he taught his disciples to pray: Thy will be done.”
“Things happen which would not happen without prayer. Let us not forget that.”
“Everything if given to God can become your gateway to joy.”
“One does not surrender a life in an instant. That which is lifelong can only be surrendered in a lifetime.”
“If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to him and ask him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy.”
“If you believe in a God who controls the big things, you have to believe in a God who controls the little things.”
“We are not meant to die merely in order to be dead. God could not want that for the creatures to whom he has given the breath of life. We die in order to live.”
“Of all things difficult to rule, none were more so than my will and affections.”
“Today is mine. Tomorrow is none of my business. If I peer anxiously into the fog of the future, I will strain my spiritual eyes so that I will not see clearly what is required of me now.”
“Money holds terrible power when it is loved.”
“The cross means suffering. Suffering’s meaning is to be learned through the cross.”
“Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.”
“When obedience to God contradicts what I think will give me pleasure, let me ask myself if I love him.”
“I have one desire now – to live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all my energy and strength into it.”
“To be a follower of the Crucified means, sooner or later, a personal encounter with the cross. And the cross always entails loss.”
“If your goal is purity of heart, be prepared to be thought very odd.”
“Cruelty and wrong are not the greatest forces in the world. There is nothing eternal in them. Only love is eternal.”
“Worship is not an experience. Worship is an act, and this takes discipline. We are to worship ‘in spirit and in truth.’ Never mind about the feelings. We are to worship in spite of them.”
“Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on him who has all things safely in his hands.”
"You are loved with an everlasting love. And underneath are the everlasting arms."

Popular Books by Elisabeth Elliot

Suffering Is Never for Nothing

Description for Suffering is Never for Nothing: Hard times come for all in life, with no real explanation. When we walk through suffering, it has the potential to devastate and destroy, or to be the gateway to gratitude and joy. Elisabeth Elliot was no stranger to suffering. Her first husband, Jim, was murdered by the Waoroni people in Ecuador moments after he arrived in hopes of sharing the gospel. Her second husband was lost to cancer. Yet, it was in her deepest suffering that she learned the deepest lessons about God. Why doesn’t God do something about suffering? He has, He did, He is, and He will.

Suffering and love are inexplicably linked, as God’s love for His people is evidenced in His sending Jesus to carry our sins, griefs, and sufferings on the cross, sacrificially taking what was not His on Himself so that we would not be required to carry it. He has walked the ultimate path of suffering, and He has won victory on our behalf. This truth led Elisabeth to say, “Whatever is in the cup that God is offering to me, whether it be pain and sorrow and suffering and grief along with the many more joys, I’m willing to take it because I trust Him.” Because suffering is never for nothing.

Keep a Quiet Heart

When life gets too busy, too impersonal, and too much to handle, it's time to turn to God for some peace and quiet. Keep a Quiet Heart is a unique collection of some of Elisabeth's best work from her newsletter. More than 100 short passages offer a bit of relief from everyday life as they point the reader toward the everlasting love and peace of God.

Passion and Purity

In her classic book, Elisabeth Elliot candidly shares her love story with Jim Elliot through letters, diary entries, and memories. She is honest about the temptations, difficulties, victories, and sacrifices of two young people whose commitment to Christ took priority over their love for each other. These revealing personal glimpses, combined with relevant biblical teaching, will remind readers that only by putting their human passion and desire through His fire can God purify their love.

In a culture obsessed with dating, sex, and intimacy, the need for Elliot's freeing message is greater than ever. This beautifully repackaged edition will appeal to today's young people.

Elisabeth Elliot’s signature line for her daily radio program for 13 years was, “…and underneath are the everlasting arms,” the very place where she knew greatest security and contentment could be found, both in this life and the next. The place where she finds freedom today, ultimate joy, eternal peace, resting safely in his arms.

May we be reminded through the wisdom of her words, what is most important in this world, knowing that no matter what we face in life, our hope is found most securely in Christ.

"'The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...”' (Deuteronomy 33:27).

Debbie McDaniel is a pastor's wife, mom to three amazing kids and a few too many pets, dramatist and writer. She has the heart to communicate God's hope through the everyday moments of life - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the ones that take your breath away. A lover of every sunrise, forever needy of His grace, this Texas girl finds joy in the simple gift of each new day. Debbie invites you to join her at www.freshdayahead.com, and Facebook and Twitter.

Publication date: June 17, 2015

Photo courtesy: ReviveOurHearts.com

This article is part of our larger Inspiring Quotes resource meant to encourage strengthen your faith. Visit our most popular quotes by well known Christians and theologians to find more inspiration. Remember, the Holy Spirit can work through us when we increase our faith and share it with us! Please pass along any quotes that touch your heart because you never know light you can shine on someone else’s dark day!

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