Quote:

“Sometimes God’s refusals are his mercies.” - Elisabeth Elliot

Context:

In a world that constantly tells us to seek happiness and do whatever that makes us feel good, Elisabeth Elliot’s simple words remind us of the importance of trusting in God's plan for our lives. Her life is a testament to this truth. She faced countless hardships and trials, including the loss of her first husband who was martyred by a tribe in the South American jungle while serving as a missionary. The crazy thing about this story is her and her husband, Jim, and other missionaries, prayed without ceasing about the salvation of this tribe. The only way she was able to reach them was through the death of her husband. When she could of let grief and unforgiveness take her over, she chose to forgive and be used by Him, ultimately leading in the salvation of that exact tribe. Whole families forever changed!  In the midst of her grief and pain, she clung to her faith and trust in God. She believed that even in the midst of tragedy, God was still working out His perfect plan for her life. Through her suffering, she was able to touch countless lives and inspire others to trust in God's goodness and faithfulness and I think this is just so beautiful. 

As flawed humans, we often struggle to understand why things don't go our way. We make plans, set goals, and envision our future, only to be met with disappointment when things don't turn out as we hoped. I understand  this very well, I am a very idealistic person and want everything to go perfect… which obviously doesn't normally work out. I have the hardest time with planning ahead and trying to make sure everything fits into my little plan, only to be met with disappointment. It's easy to become discouraged and question why God would allow certain things to happen or not happen. But as Elisabeth Elliot reminds us, sometimes “God's refusals are actually His mercies.” His mercies. And if she can say that, through all the pain and loss she went through, surely we can accept that in our own lives too.

We may not always understand the bigger picture, but God sees the full picture. He knows what is best for us, even when it may not align with our own desires. In these moments of disappointment and confusion, it's important to remember that God's love for us is unchanging. His plans for us are always good, even if they may not be what we had in mind.

One of the hardest things to face is when God says 'no' to something we desperately want. We might ask, 'Why would God deny us something that we think would bring us joy and fulfillment?' But God knows that what we want is not always what we need. He sees the potential consequences and knows that it may not be in our best interest in the long run.

It's important to trust in God's plan for our lives, even when it doesn't make sense to us. We can find comfort in knowing that his refusals are actually acts of mercy and love, protecting us and guiding us towards his perfect will for our lives. As Elisabeth Elliot also said, 'God never denies us our hearts desire except to give us something better.' So the next time things don't go according to our plans, let us remember that God's refusals are truly His mercies.

As I reflected on Elisabeth Elliot's life and her powerful words, I am reminded of the limitless love and mercy of our Heavenly Father. He knows our every need and His plans for us are always good. Even in the midst of difficult and painful circumstances, we can trust that God is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). So let us embrace the refusals and trust in God's mercies, knowing that He has a perfect plan for each of us, just like He did for Elisabeth Elliot.

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, not to harm. Plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

- Aubrey Claire 

If you are interested in learning more about Elisabeth Elliot there are many books about her life, but my favorite is Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn