Taking Hold and Letting Go

Peter's venture. I call it a venture, and yet it was no venture, for that implies hazard, whereas there was no risk. He was leaving a leaking, sinking boat to go on board a noble ship. Still, to human eyes, not to angels, it was a venture. Frail as the vessel was, it was to human eyes safer than the sea. Out of this vessel he let himself down into the raging sea, and began to walk. He was now wholly in the arms of Jesus; nothing between him and the waves but those everlasting arms. What his feelings were in letting go the hold of the ship we do not know, perhaps very peculiar; but, with that word "Come" sounding over the waves, why should he fear? His was the venture of faith—a faith which showed itself, not in its power to grasp, but to let go, the vessel's side—the human stay. Yes, we often speak of faith as taking hold, but here it is seen in letting go.—H. Bonar