Elisabeth Elliot: Do the Next Thing

by Selah Helms

Although she is best known for her time on the mission field in Ecuador, Elisabeth Elliot welcomed marriage, singleness, widowhood, fame and obscurity, with equal grace and fruitfulness. Follow her journey from the jungles of the Amazon, where she faced the tragic death of her first husband, to the lecture halls and radio shows of the culture wars, where she stood as a valiant defender of God's Word.

Genres: Christian, Biography, History, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Childrens, Faith

160 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2018

Reviews

[Luke Rasmussen]

Read with my daughter. Very well written and excellent for teaching!

[Amy Hutchison]

What an amazing testimony for the Lord!

[C.G.Koens]

This is a good overview of Elisabeth Elliot's life, and a good one to read aloud with the kids (ours were between the ages of 8-12). I recommend this one as a nightly reader. Nothing too intense (despite the intensity of the story), and all the kids were sad when it was finished. I'll be looking at more books in this Trailblazers series.

[Kirsten]

Listened to this one as an audiobook on Libby. It was read by one of my favorite narrators. I definitely recommend it that way.
This was a short and simple biography of Elisabeth Elliot’s life. Every time I read her story I’m so amazed at her obedience and surrender to God’s will.
I haven’t read enough of E.E.’s own books. That’s on my list!

[Donna]

An inspiring and brief biography of Elisabeth Elliot aimed at children ages 9-14. Well written, informative and inspirational for adults as well as youth. A snapshot of her life and faith. Leaves the reader inspired to read other Elisabeth Elliot biographies and books by her.

[Tori Dayer]

This was such a great short and sweet summary of Elisabeth Elliott’s life!

[AmyRose]

Great missionary biography for preteens

[Lisa Blair]

Appropriate for all ages, this audiobook encourages surrender to God’s will. This biography tells of Elisabeth Elliot’s life which was full of study, sacrifice, service, grief, joy, writing, speaking, fellowship, love, and trust.

[Shellie]

This is an excellent introduction and overview of this Saint's life. Loved it!

[Olatomi Afilaka]

This was an easy inspiration read

[Rizamae]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Elisabeth Elliot: Do The Next Thing by Selah Helms is a deeply reverent portrait of a life marked by obedience, endurance, and unwavering surrender to God’s will.

rather than presenting elisabeth elliot as merely a historical or inspirational figure, the book carefully traces the steady rhythm of her convictions- how faith was not expressed in grand gestures alone, but in ordinary, often costly acts of obedience lived one step at a time.

what stands out is its thematic focus on simplicity in obedience: the idea that the Christian life is not defined by the magnitude of what is known ahead, but by the faithfulness of doing what is already placed in front of you. the oft-repeated phrase “do the next thing” becomes both a philosophy of perseverance and a quiet theological anchor throughout the narrative.

the writing carries a reflective and respectful tone, drawing from elliot’s life, writings, and legacy to present discipline not as intensity, but as consistency shaped by trust in God.

it is not merely biographical- it is formational, inviting the reader to consider obedience as something lived in small, faithful increments rather than distant, overwhelming ideals.

a contemplative and convicting tribute to a life that embodied steadfast surrender, one faithful step at a time.

[Esther*]

A good little overview of Elisabeth Elliot’s life, simple enough for all ages to enjoy. This biography covered Elliot’s early response to faith, her training for ministry, her marriage to a man who was martyred in the jungle while trying to share his faith, and her response to the loss of his life. She continues to minister to the same tribe that killed him, and when she returns to the States many years later to raise her daughter, she becomes an influential voice in the rising world of Christian media.

I knew a little bit of her life so this was a good way of hearing more of her story.

[Joshua Horn]

We listened to this together as a family. We started and quickly abandoned another book in this series because it was making most of the events up out of whole cloth. This one, I'm pretty confident, sticks closer to actual facts, helped by the plethora of information available about its subject. We appreciated the author including Elliot's position on feminism without compromise.

At times I found the writing a bit poor, probably because it was targeted at young readers.

[Ashley Southard]

I hold profound admiration for Elisabeth Elliot. The unwavering commitment of her life to the cause of Christ is both inspiring and convicting. While I appreciate the detailed narrative that effectively communicates her story, I yearn for a deeper exploration of the spiritual insights that undoubtedly enriched her journey.

[Allison Anderson Armstrong]

I liked this book a lot because it was an easy read/listen and also emphasized that Elisabeth Elliot was a "normal" christian. No Christian superhero powers or extra-human faith. Just a woman who wanted to follow God with all her heart. Definitely a good read for children.

[Dena]

This book was a good summary of Elisabeth Elliot's life. It would be a great read aloud or audiobook for children about age 8 and up. I loved getting to learn more about her story and now I have a desire to read more in depth about her and her life on mission.

[Isabelle]

Super easy and short read. I LOVR Elisabeth Elliot and my gran gave me this randomly. It’s a short semi biography style of book on Elisabeth Elliot and how God used her three marriages for His glory. Helped me better understand her story and gave me backgrounds of some of her other books.

[Katheryn]

This is a well-written account of the life and ministry of Elisabeth Elliot. It is a delightful and quick read that would be an inspiring and hope filled story to young and older readers alike.

[Debifatcox.Net]

Full of following and surrendering to God's Will.
What an amazing woman of God..

[Jacqui Eames]

Brilliant. Encouraging for any age. This is a book for everyone not just those wanting to be missionaries.

[Ashlie]

A good introduction inti Elizabeth Elliots life. Expecially for children.

[Olivia]

A good short book that will be used to teach my children of notable missionaries. It's not overly focused on Elisabeth's missionary work, but more of her whole life story.

[Kayla Yirdaw]

This was a meaningful and quick overview of Elliot’s life, however, I would found it more compelling to jump into some of the stories instead of painting broad strokes of Elliot’s life.

[Linda]

Very powerful. Elisabeth Elliot is my hero. I loved the reminder of how she lived her life.

[Renee]

Informative & inspiring. For middle readers.

[Shanna Hageman]

Skip this book and just read Elisabeth’s own works. Passion & Purity. Through Gates of Splendor.

[Sara Leacock]

I was originally planning to give this three stars, but it got better as it went on. Short, but a good summary of her life, would definitely be a good book or audiobook to introduce younger readers to her life.

Do not recommend listening to the part where all the husbands are killed while cleaning your kitchen and pregnant. I was ugly crying while mopping the floor.

[Sarah Robbins]

I read this with my ten year old daughter. It was a well written and concise biography that was encouraging to us both.

[Katy]

Excellent short biography of Elisabeth Elliot. This book makes me want to read more about her and her life story.

[Serity]

Great read aloud with my 10 year old daughter.