Let’s cut to the chase: “Fake it ’til you make it” (FITYMI) is a lie wrapped in a catchphrase.
In a world obsessed with appearances, this idea might seem like a clever hack to get ahead, but for Christians, it’s a spiritual dead-end and a dangerous deception.
If we’re leaning on this pop culture crutch, it’s time for a wake-up call. Faking anything, especially faith, is a fool’s game that leads us further from God’s truth and deeper into a hollow version of ourselves.
The idea that we can somehow create a better reality by pretending is not just flawed, it’s outright foolish when it comes to our faith. As Christians, our faith isn’t something we can fabricate or force into existence. It’s a gift from God, cultivated through genuine trust and reliance on him.
The problem with FITYMI is that it sets us up for spiritual burnout. When we constantly try to project a faith we don’t actually have, we’re not fooling anyone—least of all God. Instead of finding the freedom and peace that come from resting in Christ, we end up stuck in a cycle of pretending.
Jesus never called us to fake anything. He called us to authenticity, to bring our true selves—flaws and all—before him. When we rely on our own strength, rather than God’s, we miss out on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s be honest—FITYMI turns us into hypocrites. We end up wearing a mask, showing off a spiritual life that isn’t real, and that’s not just misleading to others, it’s harmful to us.
Jesus didn’t mince words when it came to hypocrisy. In Matthew 23:27, he called out the Pharisees for being like “whitewashed tombs,” beautiful on the outside but dead inside. Ouch. But the point is clear: God desires truth in our inner being, not a polished exterior that hides emptiness.
What’s more, when we’re busy faking it, we’re blocking the real work that God wants to do in and through us. The Holy Spirit is in the business of transformation, not performance. Romans 12:2 talks about being transformed by the renewing of our minds—not by faking it until we feel better.
When we lean into the real, messy process of growing in Christ, that’s where the true change happens. That’s why I ask God to help me ditch the “fake it” mentality and get real with him. To let him work through my weaknesses because his grace is more than enough. It’s in my honesty, my authenticity, and my complete reliance on him that I find true strength.
And here’s the most important point of all:
It’s not about pretending to have it all together; it’s about trusting the One who does.
