He is calling and He has shown Himself: Reflections on Frozen II

 

This past weekend I had the chance to watch Frozen II and I was struck in many ways by how I saw the truth of the gospel reflected, and even more importantly caught glimpses of how the movie shows that our society is desperate and reaching for its goodness and truth. 

To be completely transparent, I remember trying to watch Frozen II right when it was released on Disney + years ago but was turned off by the nature-y, New Age-y "into the unknown" vibes I was getting so within fifteen minutes I switched to watching something else. My thought then was a bit of disgust at how New Age-y our world was getting in listening to strange sounds and feelings and wanting to follow them. Yet a year or two later as I watched, I saw something completely different. 

The movie centers on Elsa, who is being drawn "into the unknown." She is being drawn away from what is comfortable and normal to her to pursue a call that she senses is true, right, and good. On the surface, there can be many interpretations for this. "Comfortable and normal" can be viewed as traditional and objective which our society sees as bad and something to run away from. And many could read that meaning into this storyline. However, there is a gospel parallel here when you look at the narrative from a different angle, and although it is easy to gloss over the story and quickly frame it as society's anthem to run into false, unprecedented unknowns, I think our society is grappling with something deeper and by creators making this story, such is being exposed whether they realize it or not. 

All of us were made in God's image. Whether you submit to the God of the Bible or not, it does not change the fact that He created you and formed your being and that you were made for Him and His purposes, which are for your good. I would propose that a major theme that can be seen in Frozen II is God's call on our lives to come to Him, lay down our lives, and find our true identity and purpose in Him as our Creator. And I think it is a call that our society is majorly grappling with as they continue to try to run away from Him in their post-modern thinking that seeks to find truth in anyone or anything but Him. 

Let's look at some of the lyrics from the movie so I can explain. 

I can hear you, but I won't
Some look for trouble
While others don't
There are a thousand reasons
I should go about my day
And ignore your whispers
Which I wish would go away

The first verse starts off with Elsa admitting that she hears a voice, but she doesn't want to. She doesn't want to admit that she hears the voice because she fears what it will bring. She senses it will turn her world upside down and demand things of her. Yet nevertheless "the whispers" keep coming though she so desperately wishes they would stop. 

In light of God's call, this can be seen as the conviction people begin to experience as God begins opening their eyes to His truth in that they were made to be in a relationship with Him. He starts drawing us in and wooing us to Himself by calling after us, showing us that life is only found in Him. Yet we fight it so often in the beginning. We don't want Him. We want ourselves. We want life to revolve around us and our schedules, our idols. We don't want a new life. We want what feels "normal" and "natural" to us which is our sin and rebellion against God. 

The second part of verse one is very similar, but expands this idea a bit more, leading to the main point. 

You're not a voice
You're just ringing in my ear
And if I heard you, which I don't
I'm spoken for, I fear
Everyone I've ever loved is here within these walls
I'm sorry, secret siren, but I'm blocking out your calls
I've had my adventure, I don't need something new
I'm afraid of what I'm risking if I follow you

Here, Elsa is still denying she hears the call yet she reveals a bit more about why she seeks to deny it. It is because everyone (or everything) "she has ever loved is here within these walls." I can't help, but specifically think of the LGBTQ/LGBTQIA movement when I hear this line, though I know the writers were not thinking (or realized they were thinking) of the meaning I hear in it. Our society is spiraling into unbelief and immorality. Everyone defines their own truth and meaning, and anything goes as being good for someone as long as it "feels right" to them. We incase ourselves with people who will affirm our feelings and desires, and destroy or cancel anyone who does not line up with our view. For those in the LGBTQ community specifically, I know it is incredibly hard to consider leaving that lifestyle because of the community they sense around them. It feels incredibly uncomfortable to leave a community that has done nothing but made them feel affirmed and seen. And I do want to point out that this goes for any other lifestyle in our society, we are a people that don't want to be challenged. We want to rule and govern ourselves and decide what is right and then surround ourselves with people that will affirm us in our thinking. We hate objectiveness, we will only affirm subjectivity. Yet we are dying. We are grappling. Such subjectivity and affirmation aren't working to fill the holes in our hearts and chests. It isn't working. 

And it is because it is leading us away from the very One who came to die for our sins so that hole in our hearts can be filled. Yet this God, the One true God of the Bible, is faithful to call rebellious, lost sinners to Himself. People want to remain safe inside their walls of self-deception and idolatry, they don't want a new life, they fear what will happen if they admit that they sense God's conviction and call on their life, yet the Lord keeps calling and wooing them... into the unknown so that they can be KNOWN. 

Here, I want to jump down to a part of the second verse because by this point you can probably see the parallels within the rest of the lyrics. 

Or are you someone out there
Who's a little bit like me?
Who knows deep down
I'm not where I'm meant to be?

Every day's a little harder
As I feel my power grow
Don't you know there's part of me
That longs to go

In the song, Elsa keeps wrestling through the call as she begins to cry out "Are you someone out there who's a little bit like me?" Now again, the first time I heard this I thought, "Here we go again. This is getting to society's lie that you just need to go "be you" and define life and meaning for yourself. 'Go off and see that there are more people like you. You're not bad. Go be different. Going against tradition is good no matter what people say.'" However, I think there is a deeper meaning here that society is wrestling with. Believers can read this lyric as society crying out after spending years of sowing seeds of immorality and false ideologies and realize, "Is there someone out there who's a little bit like me?" Or even more clearly, "Is there Someone out there who made me... and is telling me deep down I am not where He created me to be?" 

The lyric continues, "Every day's a little harder as I feel my power grow, don't you know there's part of me that longs to go..." God's conviction never eases. He loves us too much to leave us as we are. And deep down, for all of those who are being called by God into a relationship with Himself, who are called to forsake their sin and trust in Jesus, we long to do so because we sense His all-powerful, true, life-giving love... and we know that we were made for it and it is the one thing that will fill our hearts like nothing else will or could.

There are a few more parallels I want to draw out before wrapping up, but this requires looking at Elsa's second song, "Show Yourself."

At this part in the movie, Elsa has committed to following the voice to learn what the voice is calling her to do. As she approaches where she believes the voice is, she begins singing "Show Yourself," proclaiming she is ready to learn whatever it is the voice has to show her. 

I would encourage you to go listen to the song because I am not going to unpack it line by line here, but ultimately the song shows Elsa's trembling fear yet also anticipation and excitement at discovering this voice. She longs to know why the voice is calling and is ready to submit to its authority in whatever the voice reveals. The song has beautiful, climatic music behind it that captures this tone well. 

Yet, I think it is a climax that society is at. We as humans do not demand God to show Himself. No, He willingly did that when He became a man and dwelt among us, living a sinless life that resulted in a sacrificial death on a cross which was done on our behalf. Yet for anyone hearing His call, as they step towards Him both in fear of His holiness yet expectation and excitement for His promised love, forgiveness, and acceptance, He is there. He is near. He is eager to receive those who repent and believe. 

In this scene in the movie, as Elsa finds and sees what the voice has to reveal, she is overcome by absolute emotion. Tears fill her eyes and an expression of complete known-ness is depicted. She feels found. She knows she is known. 

I would beg society, proclaim to them– this is the story of Scripture. God calls us. We cannot deny that call when it is Him wooing our hearts. May it be said that He is worth risking everything for, He is worth surrendering and forsaking all idols and sin for. And when we do we find our true identity in the Lord's love and grace and mercy. His love and forgiveness change our identity. He fills us up. He never leaves us or forsakes us. 

He has shown Himself, world. His call feels as if it is into the unknown, but it is the only way we can be known and find true peace and rest. 

I urge you, recognize where this world's lies and ideologies, where your own idols and rebellion are leading you. They will not fill up or satisfy. You will never be able to rectify your choices or make them right on your own. Turn to Jesus, turn to the One in whose image you were made. Seek Him while He may be found. Trust His lovingkindess and be found. Turn from your own sinful ways, and see that the Lord is there willing and already showing Himself to you. 

And be found. 

Be truly free indeed. 

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 

John 8:36