Faux Real: Fear Or Faith, You Choose.Smakprov

Faux Fear. (Faux; /fō/ : facade, fake, fictitious, imitation, artificial.)

Fear is difficult to see and often catches us by surprise. It generates power from the unexpected and builds momentum from anticipation. Like a faux wall, while it only appears real, it needs no substance for it to have a real effect. 

The apostle Paul calls this a pretension, and it is why, as believers, a correct perspective is essential to see what is not always visible.

The word pretension, in many ways, artfully describes what faux fear essentially is. It comes from the same Latin root as the words pretend and imagination, and represents fear in the form of intimidation. 

Intimidation is often nothing more than a fictitious thought but very real in the way that it keeps us captive. They are thoughts that set themselves up like walls in our mind opposing a true perception of God and of ourselves. 

Over time, these walls become more and more fortified and end up keeping us captive to our own perpetuated fear. But as Paul describes in this passage, there is a weapon that can take captive what’s been keeping you captive!

You see, the fearful situation you are facing may be real enough. Maybe it involves real people, real betrayal or even real offense, but what’s keeping you captive is not the actual conversation or even the people in the situation but the thoughts you keep playing over in your mind and the dialogue you keep having with yourself.

Whilst perception isn’t everything, perspective certainly is. Colossians reminds us to set our sights on the reality of heaven. 

As you adjust your perspective, the perceptions you have about yourself and your circumstances change, and the pretensions you have concerning others dissolve. 

Faux fear is overcome by adjusting your focus with faith. When we take captive the thoughts that have captivated our focus, we begin to release the grip fear has held on our life by way of faith.