If you know me at all you probably know about my love for Moana. Moana the person, the movie, and pretty much everything about Moana.
You know those times when you just instantly have a soul connection to someone or something?
Those moments are the best and don’t happen all the time so they are reeeeally special. Soul connections are deep and they hit us like ton of bricks, but in absolutely the best way possible.
These moments are why we get tattoos, engraved necklaces, write a blog, start our own business, move to another country to work in an orphanage, have a long conversation with a friend or family member we have been putting off, or just post a picture on social media. Moments like this draw you to ACTION. You were so touched that you have to do something about it. It’s one of those unfathomable moments when we just sit back and think, THIS IS JESUS.
Jesus knows you and he knows me too. He knit us together in our mother’s womb, he knows how many hairs are on our head, he knows what makes us tick, he knows what brings us the most joy and he knows the depths of our soul and our hearts deepest desires. We all long to be fully known and fully loved right? That is one of the biggest yearnings of our hearts as women. When Jesus gives us these moments it’s like he is sending us a special message saying, “I know you think the rest of the world has forgotten about you, but I haven’t. I want you to always remember that I am here thinking about you and loving you, ALWAYS.”
I am going to share with you one of my soul moments from the movie Moana and to be totally honest, I have several. I could go on and on about certain songs or scenes, but the one I am about to share will hopefully be the most relatable to you.
The scene I am going to share has to do with identity. Many of us have heard this talk over and over again, especially as women. We put our identity in guys, in the things we did in our past, in the clothes we wear or the friends we have. We also put our identity in our job, our success, the amount of vacations we get to take, how well our children behave, how fit we are and the list goes on. This cycle is TOXIC. This is what causes us sleepless nights, constantly comparing ourselves to other women, think bad things about ourselves, etc.. We may even talk under our breath, and say how stupid we are. “How did you not learn this from the last time?” “You will never be as pretty as she is.” “Will you ever find something you are good at?” “Why can’t you be more like so and so?”
TOXIC.
These thoughts in our head push us further and further away from the heart of our savior. They can put us in a funk of depression where we just want to go home and lay in bed. We may block out our family and friends and wallow in the depths of despair. Thanks Anne for coining that phrase.
This scene from Moana is meant to remind you of the truth. To unveil the beauty that the Lord has given all of you. This beauty can shine through in many different shapes and forms. God has put some of His attributes and characteristics in each of us so that as the body of Christ we can work together to further his kingdom. For example, I am really good at getting things done efficiently and making things happen. I am not good at comforting, but I have friends who are amazing at it. That is one of the beautiful things about community. The problem is, this beauty is bursting to be unveiled in us, but we continue to allow Satan to hold us back. We allow our past or comparison to define us instead of letting JESUS define us, and letting our sisters encourage us in the gifts that they see in us.
Now, watch this link from Moana, you only need to watch till you see Maui come in. Read the rest of the blog after you watch it one time. It is at the bottom of the page!
Backstory: All the anger, hurt and pain from Te Fiti’s past has made her hard and calloused. She isolates herself from other people because she doesn’t think she is worthy. She see’s Moana, who we are going to think of as Jesus, and starts running towards her. Te Fiti has had all she can take and she is at her breaking point. All the hurt, pain, anger and unforgiveness are coursing through her veins. We have all experienced the hopelessness that we can see in Te Fiti at some point in our lives.
Moana (Jesus) walks towards her with eyes and a heart full of love. She knows the pain that Te Fiti has felt. She knows that she has suffered. She knows that she feels so trapped and thinks that there is no way to escape. Moana starts to sing praises over her because she believes in who she truly is and who she was created to be.
Moana- “I have crossed the horizon to find you.”
Jesus-“ For the son of man has come to seek and save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
Moana- “I know your name.”
Jesus- “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you O Israel: “Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you BY NAME, you are MINE.” Isaiah 43:1
Moana- “They have stolen the heart from inside you, but this does not define you.”
Jesus- “Be sober minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”1 Peter 5:8
Jesus- “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them. For he who is in you is GREATER than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
Moana- “This is not who you are, you know who you are.”
Jesus- “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s SPECIAL possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into this wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Moana- “Who you truly are.”
Jesus- “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12
Moana puts in the stone (her heart) and Te Fiti starts to TRULY receive the fullness of God’s love for her. The stones, insecurities or chains that she has been holding onto, begin to fall off of her. God’s’ love will break every chain! The love of Christ covers a multitude of sins and she is now made new in Him! No longer a slave to fear but a beloved child of God.
HER TRUE BEAUTY IS UNVEILED THROUGH CHRIST!
She cannot help but be filled with love and joy.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!” Romans 15:13
Te Fiti’s joy and love begins to spread all across the land. Hope has been restored, because when we have Jesus, nothing is impossible!
The beauty has been unveiled.
Now, watch the scene again with the perspective of Jesus (Moana) speaking to you.
You may want to read these verses as Moana speaks to fully understand how Jesus speaks to us.
Satan does not want your beauty to be unveiled, he wants you to stay trapped in the sins of your past like Te Fiti was. Let Jesus “Unveil your Beauty.” For most of us, this will be a lifelong process. Each season is different and things are revealed to us at different times. Just promise me you will never stop running towards Jesus. In the hard seasons, run to Jesus/In the easy seasons, run to Jesus/In anger and frustration, run to Jesus/In peace and joy, run to Jesus/In hurt and pain, run to Jesus. He will be there walking towards you with loving eyes and open arms singing praises over you, reminding you who are in Him and unveiling your beauty until the day you go home to be with Him. No matter what you have done or mistakes you have made, His love never changed for you.
I hope some of you can watch Moana in a new light now. I pray that you can know the truth about yourself and stop believing the lies. It can be so hard! It takes strength and sacrifice, but I want you to know that I believe in you. Jesus believes in you. I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes from ‘The Greatest Showman,’
“You don’t need everyone to love you, just a few good people.”
Don’t believe the lies.
Allow Jesus to unveil your beauty.
