Will We Live in Fear or Will We Live by Faith?

We often imagine that the opposite of faith is unbelief, but Scripture also suggests that the opposite of faith may be fear. Many times we live in fear instead of acting in faith or resting in faith. Maybe because our faith is not placed in the One who is able to meet our needs. Maybe because we don’t believe Jesus will do for us as He has for others. In Mark 5, Jesus is talking with the ruler of the synagogue whose daughter had died.  He had heard that Jesus could heal her, but he was afraid. Maybe that Jesus couldn’t perform a miracle so great as raising his daughter from the dead – or that Jesus wouldn’t do it for him! But Jesus could, and He would! He gently spoke to the man, “Don’t be afraid, only believe!” He speaks to us the same words today. “Do not be afraid, believe in Me. Trust Me. Follow Me.”