p. 5 | LET GO by Ada D. Wellman

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Jan 6, 1904

LET GO.

By Ada D. Wellman

It was once necessary for me to pass from a ship to a life-boat, in mid-ocean, at a time when the sea was very rough. The boat was secured alongside the ship; still it was tossed about by the waves.

The captain helped me over the side of the ship, and there I hung, clinging to the railing, waiting for an opportune moment to drop into the boat. In that position I could not see the boat all the time, tho sometimes I espied it away fore or aft, and knew that then nothing intervened between me and the dreaded deep.

The captain directed, “When I tell you to let go, then you must let go immediately.” His words seemed almost like a death sentence. But I had confidence in his purpose and ability to land me safely in the boat; and when he commanded, “Let go,” I obeyed instantly, and dropped—a few inches—into powerful arms reaching up from the boat to receive me.

Had I delayed one minute, the boat would have changed position, and then to drop would have been to fall into the raging water. Verily, tardy obedience is not obedience.

Sometimes, when we are clinging to something which seems indispensable to our well-being, our Captain commands, “Let go!” Then, how wont is faithless humanity to hesitate, not realizing that He sees the life-boat directly beneath us, tho we do not see it. Many persistently cling to the poor, visible support, and never know the blessings which had been prepared for them.

Soul, let go the sinking ship of worldly policy, of carnal indulgence, of selfish ambition. These things are going down, and they will drag you under unless you let go of them quickly. Trust Him who is able and willing to save! He has better things for you! Let go now! ADA D. WELLMAN.