“And at last I see the light
And it’s like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the sky is new
And its warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
Now at once everything looks different
Now that I see you.”
This is a song that has been stuck in my head for days, ever since I watched the movie, “Tangled,” in Nepal. And although it may be from just a Disney movie, it has so much meaning.
Rapunzel is a beautiful princess, a princess with many talents, a princess with long, lovely hair that has healing powers. But, because of the special qualities of her hair, she has been stolen by an evil woman, who calls herself “Mother.” This woman does not love Rapunzel. She merely wants to stay young by using the powers of Rapunzel’s hair. So, Rapunzel is forced to live within a tall, dark tower. She can never leave. She can read and paint and practice candlemaking and ventriloqy, but she can NEVER leave. She is a princess, but she doesn’t know that, for she has been deluded by a woman that tells her lies and makes her out to be worthless.
“Mother” is a woman that merely “masquerades as an angel of light.” She calls Rapunzel “flower,” says “I love you most,” and acts like she is the loving mom bent on protecting her daughter. But, all the while, she is emotionally abusing the stolen princess, messing with her mind any chance she can find. She makes her feel like she isn’t beautiful enough or smart enough. She makes fun of how she speaks and does not even attempt to build her up. She calls Rapunzel “dirty,” “vague,” “naive,” and even “chubby.” And although NONE of these descriptions are true, the lies keep Rapunzel trapped. She is afraid to leave and completely unsure of her capabilities. “Mother” is a woman who snuffs out any ray of light she can find, both literally and figuratively. She may pretend to be filled with light, but she herself is darkness.
Each year, on Rapunzel’s birthday, there are lanterns set free into the air, lanterns set free in an attempt to find the lost princess. From high in her tower, Rapunzel can see these flickers of hope. Although they are far off, she can SEE the light. She KNOWS there is more.
And trapped within her tower, Rapunzel has had ENOUGH.
So with the help of a handsome rescuer, she finally does leave. She leaves, and she SEES the light. She SEES the lanterns for herself up close and personal, and she bursts into song.
“And at last I see the light
And it’s like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the sky is new
And its warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
Now at once everything looks different
Now that I see you.”
And soon after, she comes to realize . . . . she is the lost princess!
Yes, Mother does come after her, but Rapunzel finally KNOWS who she is. AND, she finally knows WHOSE she is. She is a daughter of the King! She is a beautiful, talented, gifted princess who is of royal birth. She has strength to stand up to her enemy, “Mother.” She firmly states, “For the rest of my life I will fight. I will never stop running from you!”
Are you like Rapunzel?
Have you had ENOUGH??
Have you had ENOUGH of the lies?
Have you had ENOUGH of the darkness?
Do you want to step out into the light?
Satan is a LOSER who wants to keep you trapped. He wants to keep you trapped with lies that you are worthless. He wants to keep you trapped doing seemingly good things. He wants to keep you trapped by fear of the unknown.
He KNOWS that as a child of the King, you have so much power. As a child of the King, you have the Holy Spirit living within you. Through the blood of Christ, you have been gifted with healing and life-bringing abilities that come only from above. Satan DOES NOT want you bringing this true life to those around you. That is the LAST THING he wants. He wants to drag as many people to hell with him as possible. He wants to keep the true princesses and princes trapped from doing what they were meant to do so that the light can be contained.
Satan is JUST like Mother. He may look beautiful on the outside, but really he is death itself. He may look like an angel of light, but he is really utter and complete darkness. He is the scum of the earth and deserves to be where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
So, what are you going to do about it?
Are you going to let Satan stop you or are you going to step out into all that God has for you?
Are you going to BELIEVE there is more to life?
Are you going to BELIEVE you are a child of the King?
Are you going to BELIEVE you are good enough, strong enough, smart enough, and talented enough?
Are you going to BELIEVE you can do “all things through him who gives [you] strength?” (Philippians 4:13)
Are you going to BELIEVE that God desires for you to “drink from [His] river of delights?” (Psalm 36:8b)
Are you going to BELIEVE that Jesus came “that [you] may have life, and have it to the full?” (John 10:10b)
“If you [have confessed] with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, YOU [ARE] SAVED!!!” (Romans 10:9) And if you are saved, you have the power of Christ WITHIN YOU!
BELIEVE IT!!
REALLY AND TRULY BELIEVE IT!!
Satan may fight and Satan may attack, but you have the upper hand!
There is one point in the movie, while waiting for the lanterns to lift into the sky, that Rapunzel asks, “What if it’s not everything I dreamed it would be? And what if it is?”
You may be asking these very same questions, and I am asking you to STOP.
Just TRUST HIM!
Yes, it WILL be EVERYTHING you dreamed it would be and MORE.
God WILL “do IMMEASURABLY MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)
He himself IS the “life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:19b)
When you step into the light, all the darkness will fade.
When you step into the light, you will FINALLY see the truth.
You will see “THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE.” (John 14:6)
“And at last I see the light
And it’s like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the sky is new
And its warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
Now at once everything looks different
Now that I see YOU.”
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“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible: This is why it is said: “Wake up sleeer, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” -Ephesians 5:8-16
