God's Guidance a Slow and Certain Light

by Elisabeth Elliot

Reflections and reminders of the enlightening counsel of God.

• Should I accept that great job opportunity even if it means more time away from my family?
• Is it time to start looking for another church?
• Should I get married or remain single?
• How can I decide whether to go to a Christian or secular college?

When life's options go every which way, where can you go for direction? Although the world offers advice through professional counselors, well-meaning (but not always wise) friends, or even psychics and astrologers, as a Christian you know you can turn to God for real answers. But before turning to Him, are you willing to put your faith and trust in Him explicitly, even if His timing and what He shows you may not be according to your desires or expectations?

God's Guidance will not show you how to find God's will in six easy steps. Instead, Elisabeth Elliot invites you to draw closer to God so you can walk in His light, confidently, one step at a time. Here is a practical book to confirm and inspire your continued faith when coming to God for the "big" and "little" answers to life.


Elisabeth Elliot has pointed the way to a closer walk with God through several books, including A Chance to Die, Passion and Purity, The Mark of a Man, The Glad Surrender, and On Asking God Why.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Christianity, Devotional, Religion, Faith

127 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1992

About the author

From the Author's Web Site: My parents were missionaries in Belgium where I was born. When I was a few months old, we came to the U.S. and lived in Germantown, not far from Philadelphia, where my father became an editor of the Sunday School Times. Some of my contemporaries may remember the publication which was used by hundreds of churches for their weekly unified Sunday School teaching materials.

Our family continued to live in Philadelphia and then in New Jersey until I left home to attend Wheaton College. By that time, the family had increased to four brothers and one sister. My studies in classical Greek would one day enable me to work in the area of unwritten languages to develop a form of writing.

A year after I went to Ecuador, Jim Elliot, whom I had met at Wheaton, also entered tribal areas with the Quichua Indians. In nineteen fifty three we were married in the city of Quito and continued our work together. Jim had always hoped to have the opportunity to enter the territory of an unreached tribe. The Aucas were in that category -- a fierce group whom no one had succeeded in meeting without being killed. After the discovery of their whereabouts, Jim and four other missionaries entered Auca territory. After a friendly contact with three of the tribe, they were speared to death.

Our daughter Valerie was 10 months old when Jim was killed. I continued working with the Quichua Indians when, through a remarkable providence, I met two Auca women who lived with me for one year. They were the key to my going in to live with the tribe that had killed the five missionaries. I remained there for two years.

After having worked for two years with the Aucas, I returned to the Quichua work and remained there until 1963 when Valerie and I returned to the U.S.

Since then, my life has been one of writing and speaking. It also included, in 1969, a marriage to Addison Leitch, professor of theology at Gordon Conwell Seminary in Massachusetts. He died in 1973. After his death I had two lodgers in my home. One of them married my daughter, the other one, Lars Gren, married me. Since then we have worked together.

Reviews

[Angie (Bussen) Siedell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for a women's Bible study in 1997. I really don't remember a lot about the book. I enjoyed the study and remember it was one of those studies that hit me just at the right time, after the birth of my oldest daughter. One thing that has stuck with me over the years, is Elliot's quote, "DO THE NEXT THING." Amazing how such a simple little phrase has pulled me through so many times of feeling overwhelmed over the years. It's a phrase I try to live by. Helps me keep plugging away, when it seems there is just too much to be done.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good stuff but sometimes she can be long-winded with too many examples or stories.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reminders on how God reveals His plan for us. Main truth: If your heart is set to obey God, He will guide you where He wants you to go.

[Emma Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, such a good read in the midst of transition and unknown. Elisabeth tells it to you straight haha. I also love all of her biblical examples, so encouraging!

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not my favorite E. Eliot book, but everything she writes is very good. The whole idea of the book is that we draw closer to God so we can confidently walk in His light, one step at a time.
She had the best explanation for fasting ever. I find fasting just makes me obsessed with thinking of food. She says: "I like to eat, and fasting is not a good way of getting one's mind off food, but it is a way of deliberately putting one's mind on one thing (God) because you are reminded every minute of the other thing (food)."
Quotes:
"I like to picture the Lord handing me a platter at the beginning each day. On it are the things He has chosen as best for me, and my prayer for daily bread is answered. My part is to receive whatever He gives."
"We ought to be willing to allow God to do 'special' things for us if he wants to and to accept them quietly, confident that whatever He does fits into the working out of His purposes for us all."

[Clara Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elliot begins with a brief discussion of the model prayer. This sets the stage for why we pray. Elliot then discuss what God has promised then she talks about the conditions for hearing our prayers. The first condition is recognition of God himself. Believing that God means what He says is the second condition. Then comes obdience of faith; we go with Him. She says "There is a sense in which the objective toward which God leads is not separable from the means by which he will lead us there." She talks of God leading by both supernatural and by natural means. This was a very good book.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book tucked away on a bottom shelf in the library at the church I work at. I love reading Elisabeth Elliot anyway and I was eager to find something or someone that would help me with discerning God's will for my life (who isn't?). I needed to read that book in that specific season. While I didn't ascertain the specific path that God is leading me down from that book (that would be unrealistic), I did learn a lot about HOW God leads and directs. We serve a mighty and loving God. How sweet to become better acquainted!

I would recommend this one.

[Jaclynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elisabeth doesn’t give you any “quick fix directions” or a certain formula for finding God’s will for your life but rather offers sound biblical advice. The main key is to draw closer to God, putting our trust fully in Him, so we can walk confidently wherever He chooses.But also to not disregard the common sense the Lord has given us. She also shows the means on how God led men and women in the Bible.

[Natalie Gleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book about discerning God's plan for your life, keeping in mind the Promises, Conditions, Objectives, and Means of accomplishing His will. I do wish she would have used the King James Bible for scripture quotations, but overall, Elisabeth's observations and spiritual insights were wonderful. I very much enjoyed her liberal employment of Lewis and MacDonald quotes and look forward to reading more books by her.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was a sophomore in high school. I then did the study that went with it. Since then, I have reread the book/study at least 6 times and have lead it as a study. It's full of wisdom and truth. My relationship with God is much deeper and much more personal having read this book.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit to being a little disappointed with this book. Don't misunderstand me; the book is good, just not what I was expecting.

Aside from that, this book blessed me by reminding me that God is guiding me in the here and now.

"It was in the ordinary course that the extraordinary happened" Elizabeth Eliot: God's Guidance

[Nova Fiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quoting the review from the book - " This book will not show you how to find God's will in 6 easy steps. Instead, it invites you to draw closer to God so you can walk in His light, confidently, 1 step at a time. This is a practical book to confirm and inspire your continued faith when coming to God for the 'big' and 'little' answers to life."

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elisabeth Elliot. Enough said, really. There is no other Christian author whose writing and speaking reminds me so well that God is sovereign. That knowledge puts everything into perspective and is more than enough to give me the "peace that passes understanding."

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different perspective on God's will by studying the Lord's prayer.

[Barry Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the most overlooked and helpful books on guidance ever written.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably good advice, but not an easy read. Would need to read again when I have more time to reflect.

[Kelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was some wisdom I was able to glean from this book, but I had a hard time getting past the sexist language and mindset of the author. Rather disappointing.

[Tim Casteel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always find Elisabeth Elliot helpful- jarringly refreshing. She is a bridge to a different era, a tether connecting the modern world to the wisdom of centuries gone by. Though she just recently passed away, she was so formed by poets and thinkers of the 18th and 19th century that her writing brings what CS Lewis calls the only remedy to our modern blindness- "to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds."

The original title was better, more in line with the thrust of the book- A Slow and Certain Light: Thoughts on the Guidance of God.

Here is the main idea:

"Our prayers for guidance (or for anything else) really begin here: I trust him. This requires abandonment. We are no longer saying, 'If I trust him, he’ll give me such and such,' but, 'I trust him. Let him give me or withhold from me what he chooses.'"

And this:

"The Christian does not come to God for advice. He comes asking for God’s will."

Very short book. Highly recommend.

[Kristen Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fantastic! She teaches exactly what you need to hear, not necessarily what you want to hear.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorite book by Elliot, but that's like saying one of the Harry Potter books isn't my favorite... I still love it, its just an A+ instead of an A++. As always, Elliot is so rooted in the truth of Scripture that you finish her book knowing God better than you did when you started it. Practical, encouraging, and illuminating are the three words I would use to describe this book. If you're looking for a 3 step program to discern God's will this isn't it, but if you're earnestly seeking to know who God is and how He reveals His will, this book is for you. I came away so encouraged and so content based on Elliot's teachings.

[Valerie Van Moorsel · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really enjoyed reading this book, it encouraged me to start where i am, i wait for the right time in life to start, now is the time.
i found this book interesting an easy to understand book, took me a while to read as i let things sink in a bit, it is not a book to sit and read all in one day that is for sure, you might miss something important.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like the format of this Bible study (ie-having all the questions lumped together at the end of the book-they should have been scatterd throughout the study). The content was pretty good-she does go through a list of different ways God can reveal His Will to you at the end of the book(ie-signs, advice from friends, Scriptures, angelic visitors, etc...)

[Steven Tryon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Slow and Certain Light: Some thoughts on the guidance of God

Found a copy of the book on our shelves and started reading it. Elisabeth Elliot writes simply and profoundly, with the grace of one who has been through the furnace. There are no shortcuts to knowledge to be found here, just a reliance on the slow and certain light. It rings true. Well worth reading.

[Isabell Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Elisabeth Elliot, so I loved her writing style as always. However, I was not very impressed with the teaching. I found it a bit all over the place, not very consistent or forthright, so I got to the end and my attitude was more on the “Huh?” spectrum as opposed to the “Ah-ha!” spectrum. Not my favorite of her works, but I will still always be an Elisabeth Elliot fan!

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok, but not my favorite of Elliot's. On this particular topic I would more readily recommend JI Packer's book 'Guard Us, Guide Us, Divine Leading in Life's Decisions' Packer's book is more helpful in my opinion & a lot more in depth.

[Wendy]

Just got from Amazon - but am really excited to read.

[Lewis]

is ok !!!

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just started reading this book as part of our morning Bible reading with the kids.

[Emanuela · Rating 4 out of 5]

O carte despre calauzirea lui Dumnezeu, scrisa din experientele autoarei si din cele scrise in Biblie, nu contine o reteta pe care s`o urmezi si sa afli voia Lui. Merita o improspatare a memoriei:)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, quick read, full of perceptive insights. I especially enjoyed the first chapter on the Lord's Prayer.