Suffering Is Never for Nothing

By: Elisabeth Elliott

Narrated by: Pam Ward

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.

©2019 eChristian (P)2019 eChristian

A Favorite

This is a publisher edited version of a sermon series delivered by Elisabeth Elliot at a conference saved on a set of CDs. The editor received this series of lectures on CD and felt strongly that it must be available more widely in different media. The editor made sure to clarify that the only amendments to the content were to make it more applicable to a non-conference audience, removing references to previous lectures and so forth. Joni Earekson Tada wrote a very moving forward.

Elisabeth Elliot has suffered, but she is intent on emphasizing that not all suffering is the same. Her suffering isn’t the same as someone else’s. Her words may not comfort in a specific context because her suffering may be different from that of the listener. Elliot defined suffering as "having what you don't want or wanting what you don't have". I found this to be a profound definition.

Suffering must mean something. Meaning makes suffering valuable. Elliot processes her grief with the reader tenderly. While I did not enjoy or finish “Passion and Purity”, this one was a book worth reading several times over for its meaty dissection of experience, trauma, and emotion through a Biblical, theological eye, to learn the rhetoric we ought to be teaching ourselves in the middle of the hard things. Elliot found peace in her pain by speaking truth to herself and then keeping busy. She seemed to strongly caution over-processing which I needed to hear, honestly.

I will be reading this one again.

Great book

Great audio of Elisabeth Elliot's life. Encouraging words ,definitely something that could be listened to over and over.

Couldn't stop listening

This book is refreshing in so many ways. It is an easy read full of insight, humor, and a depth of wisdom I'm sure Elisabeth Elliot never realized she possessed from living a life of tragedy and triumph through faithfulness to the Lord. I'm so glad I read it.

Encouraging

I am buying a hard copy after listening to this. It was life changing wisdom

Profoundly helpful book!!!!!

I loved this book. It was so fantastic in helping me think through and process suffering. Highly recommend!