A Slow & Certain Light: Thoughts on the Guidance of God

by Elisabeth Elliot

This is a book about guidance of God, writes the author Elisabeth Elliot a collection of observations from personal experience and from the Bible on why and how God does, in fact guide his children. To ask for the guidance of God is to make a choice, and this takes faith. It must be faith of a far higher kind. It is faith that has strength to wait for the rewards God holds, strength to believe they are worth waiting for, worth the price asked.

Genres: Christian Living, Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Non Fiction, Devotional, Faith

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

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

[Allison Heffner]

very concise and clear reminder of how we are to go about seeking God's will.

[kalynn webb]

always love her books! full of godly wisdom and guidance.

[Erin Allen]

Fire fire FIRE!!! The end especially fire! In her fashion, full of ot & nt stories, anecdotes and quotes in support of her ideas.

[Sherrie]

I can't really say why, but although this was a very small book in terms of number of chapters and pages, in comparison to other more lengthy books i've read, but for some odd reason i had a bit of difficulty getting through this one. It took me much longer to read it than it would have taken me to read a much large book and think mostly because i lost interest in it and i put it down a few times and walked away from it for a while, before deciding to just get through it and finish it. I'm not sure if it is how it's written, but for me i didn't enjoy this book as much as i thought i might. It has some very good points contained within but you may have to read a sentence or paragraph twice to make it make sense or before it connects with your understanding..or maybe it's just me :)

[Eric]

Read it once and almost done with 2nd read through, taking notes to get main points.

Jesus is the WAY. We are sheep and are to trust the shepherd. He is faithful and has never broken a promise. But the faith that lays hold of Him and trusts Him is a faith that says whatever the path, the reward is worth the wait. He is our guide and He knows the way.

Not a how to, but a good challenge to go all in with Christ and rest in Thy will, not mine. Know that he is faithful, and will not let us go or let us down.

"Following God is not like walking a tightrope."

[Lawrence]

I needed to re-read this book and will keep it on my re-read shelf to address every few years. Elizabeth Elliot remains a trusted resource, one who I often wish I had for a personal friend or relative. Blessed.

[Rachel L.]

Good thoughts on how God guides us. Clear and common-sense.

[Roy]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12820988

[Emma Schramm]

I appreciated especially the last chapter, and am thankful that Elisabeth advises readers, when faced with a choice between two actions, to choose the more difficult task, for there is value in the struggle.

[Cindy]

This was not an easy read for me. She has some good insights but the book didn't flow easily.

[Amelia Sanders]

by far my favorite Elizabeth Elliot book so far ! in a season of lots of waiting and trusting - these words from Elliot served as such an encouragement to me !

[Mary Huff]

Another of Elisabeth Elliot's older classic books, well worth the time to read.

[TheeOwen]

This book moves slow, but by the time you're finished, it feels like it went by too fast.
Need to reread. This contains an abundance of very practical theology.