A little boy had climbed up to the top of a chimney stack. His position was dangerous; a bad fall seemed imminent. Realizing his danger, he cried out to a woman who happened to enter the yard. She ran and placed herself beneath the chimney and called to the child to jump into her arms.
The little child heard her call, and was sure that the woman was able to catch him; but the distance was so great! He held more tightly to the chimney top and feared to let go.
She understood his dilemma and cried to him: "Don't be afraid! Just slide down. I'll catch you."
At last the boy did let go, and fell into the strong, kind arms beneath. He was safe! While being lowered to the ground, he heard his rescuer say: "Why could you not trust me?"
This same woman had been in distress of soul and misery for several weeks. Now she thought: "Isn't this the way that I have been treating the Lord? Hasn't He been pleading with me to drop into His mighty arms? And I, in fear, have been holding onto the stack of my doubts and unbelief. Now I, too, will just let go and take Him at His Word. He says, 'Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.' Lord, I come!" For her the happy effect was peace—immediate and abiding peace—with God.
That is what faith does. It rests on the truth of One who cannot lie, and turns from works, feelings, and efforts of every kind, and confidently rests on what God has said.
Now, dear one, will you not follow her example? You will be in misery forever unless you "let go, and let God."
Just as I am—without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee:
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!