Fear is a vital response to physical and emotional danger — if we didn't feel it, we couldn't protect ourselves from legitimate threats. But often we fear situations that are far from life-or-death, and thus hang back for no good reason.
The root of fear brings fruitlessness.
All in all fear is not bad but our response to it is. Because when we hang unto it because of past situations or because of a limiting belief, we empower it therefore becoming disempowered.