Fear is Useless

“Fear is useless. What is needed is trust.” Mark 5:36

Other versions read, “Be not afraid, only believe.” “Do not be seized with alarm and have no fear, only keep believing.” “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” Why do we sometimes prefer to fill our minds with anxieties and ‘what ifs?’ Is it perhaps because the natural reaction to faith is ridicule and scoffing? 

In the 5th chapter of Mark, a synagogue official by the name of Jairus pleads with Jesus to heal his daughter. Jesus walks off with him and a large crowd follows them. Before they reach Jairus’ home, someone from the house gives bad news. “Your daughter has died. You need not bother the teacher any longer.” Jesus then comforts Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” 

Inside the house, people are weeping and wailing loudly. “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” After he said this, the people RIDICULED Him. Instead of hoping and holding on to His words, they laughed him to scorn, and jeered! What kind of a reaction is that? Perhaps it is like a protection from disappointment. We prefer to believe the worst, rather than hope and trust. We prefer to be cynical. That is the way of the world. Cynicism is sophisticated. Hope and trust are for children. 

But aren’t we supposed to be like little children?  Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) Faith and trust and believing in God will get us to heaven, but we also need it here on earth where cynicism prevails. We need to practice believing in God’s promises more, and ignore the ridicule and laughter of the world.