I think you missed the entire point of Elisabeth Elliot’s devotional. Our ability to know Him IS only through suffering- HIS suffering on the cross made the way for us. Also, there are many verses discussing the topic of suffering as believers. God uses our suffering for His glory-that’s not the same thing as INFLICTING suffering like some cruel abusive father. Suffering in this human body and this world is inevitable, but when we surrender our suffering for His glory-He does marvelous things with and through our sufferings.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:10
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim 3:12
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34:19
I would only add that I would leave Elisabeth Elliot's devotional ALONE. A woman that defies Scripture and takes her small children into the jungle to 'evangelize' the same tribe of people who murdered her husband is not to be held up as a godly example. That God protected her and her children, and extended mercy to the tribe is because He is good, not that she is. What would everyone have said if the tribe also murdered her and her children? Would we be reading her devotionals, or would we be reminded that the Scripture says that MEN were sent by the church, often leading a wife with them as they went? Could it have been that if Jim had originally had his wife and children with him that the tribe might not have seen him as a threat? Even then, though, sending women and children into harms way for the sake of the Gospel is nowhere taught in Scripture, which does relate God's design and will for every aspect of our faith and practice.
I think you missed the entire point of Elisabeth Elliot’s devotional. Our ability to know Him IS only through suffering- HIS suffering on the cross made the way for us. Also, there are many verses discussing the topic of suffering as believers. God uses our suffering for His glory-that’s not the same thing as INFLICTING suffering like some cruel abusive father. Suffering in this human body and this world is inevitable, but when we surrender our suffering for His glory-He does marvelous things with and through our sufferings.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:10
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim 3:12
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psalm 34:19
I would only add that I would leave Elisabeth Elliot's devotional ALONE. A woman that defies Scripture and takes her small children into the jungle to 'evangelize' the same tribe of people who murdered her husband is not to be held up as a godly example. That God protected her and her children, and extended mercy to the tribe is because He is good, not that she is. What would everyone have said if the tribe also murdered her and her children? Would we be reading her devotionals, or would we be reminded that the Scripture says that MEN were sent by the church, often leading a wife with them as they went? Could it have been that if Jim had originally had his wife and children with him that the tribe might not have seen him as a threat? Even then, though, sending women and children into harms way for the sake of the Gospel is nowhere taught in Scripture, which does relate God's design and will for every aspect of our faith and practice.