Fear

Mark 5:36 (ASV)

Fear not, only believe.

Fear is the antithesis of faith. It is the opposite of what faith is and hopes for. Fear evokes anxiety and uncertainty, while faith results in a calm assurance. Fear destroys while faith builds. Fear incapacitates a man while faith empowers him. Fear is a result of lacking confidence and someone powerful enough to trust. Faith is a byproduct of trust in an all-knowing and omnipotent God. Even the most self-reliant and self-assured man will eventually panic as his house of cards starts falling apart in adversity. In contrast, a saint can stare death in the face and still be serene because he knows he is going into God's Presence, where he will never die again.