5 Biblical Lessons We Can Learn From FROZEN
By Movieguide® Staff
Quality: ****
Content: +3 Some minor questionable elements (media-wisdom is suggested to discuss).
Disney’s FROZEN has been delighting children since its release in 2013. The plot centers on Queen Elsa, who has the power to wield ice. When she accidentally curses her town to an infinite winter, she flees to an isolated ice tower. Her younger sister, Anna, goes on a mission to find Elsa and restore summer to their kingdom. She teams up with Kristoff, the mountaineer, and his reindeer on her epic journey. They meet Olaf, a loveable snowman, and together fight to save their village from an eternal winter.
While FROZEN is a sweet fairytale (that happens to have the best music to sing along with), there are important lessons to be learned from Snow Queen Elsa. Buried beneath the silliness and fun animation, children are taught to overcome fear and embrace their God-given talents. The characters show great courage and demonstrate the importance of family. Best of all, FROZEN gives a shining example of sacrificial love, which ultimately reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins. Take a closer look at the Biblical teachings found in the film.
Don’t Give In To Fear
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Elsa discovers early on that her power to wield ice is something to fear. When she accidentally strikes her younger sister, Anna, while playing, Elsa is separated from her sister for protection, which only feeds into her fear of harming others. She hides her magic, not letting anyone see her true self for fear of rejection. Once her powers are exposed at the coronation, she flees her kingdom, leaving a trail of ice and infinite winter behind her. Elsa takes shelter in an isolated ice palace.
The Bible says in 2 Timothy that we are not made in a spirit of fear. The Lord equips us with power, love and self-control. We don’t have to panic when life throws us challenges because He is on our side, equipping us to move through the scary moments. His love conquers all, and we shouldn’t run from problems in fear. If we lean on Him during our hardest times, we come out on top with love and grace. Ask him to give you the composure when anxiety rears its ugly head.
Embrace God-Given Gifts
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
It can’t be easy to have the power to create ice and snow. When she was young, Elsa used her magic for good, creating winter wonderlands for her and Anna. Yet, the trauma of harming Anna and being told by her parents to hide her magic teaches her to be ashamed of who she is. Throughout the film, we watch Elsa embracing her gifts, changing from an anxious girl to a confident Snow Queen. In the end, she learns to use her powers for good.
If we read the words of 1 Peter 4:10, it’s clear that God has given us all gifts. When we see these qualities as strengths instead of a curse, the Lord uses us to carry out His will. If we resist the gifts we’ve been given, as Elsa does, we aren’t answering His call. Yet, if we embrace the qualities He’s given us and use them to serve others, we spread His love and grace. At the heart of FROZEN, Elsa learns a valuable lesson in self-acceptance that we can all learn from.
Let It Go
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19
Who can forget the iconic moment when Elsa sings the beloved song “Let It Go” while she builds an ice castle? It’s a powerful scene depicting a young woman releasing her painful past and opening up to a better life for herself. She sings, “And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast. I’m never going back. The past is in the past.” These lyrics are a testimony of how we can move beyond triggering experiences. While Elsa makes this decision on her own, we are called to do the same but with our eyes on Christ.
By living out the words in Isaiah 43:18-19, the Lord commands us to heal from challenges and not dwell in the past. He has new plans on the horizon, and Jesus is the way in the wilderness. No challenge is too great for Him, and by releasing the past, we open ourselves up to His will for our lives. This is one way we keep ourselves from getting stuck and living a full life. While we can’t avoid the difficulties life often throws our way, it’s best to let it go and allow God to take control.
Put Someone Else’s Needs First
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4
One of the most poignant moments in FROZEN happens after Anna’s heart is accidentally frozen by Elsa. Olaf builds a fire to warm Anna and teaches her a beautiful lesson about love. Olaf says, “Love is putting someone else’s needs before yours.” As he stands before the fire, Anna says, “You’re melting,” to which Olaf replies, “Some people are worth melting for.” What a profound statement from a silly snowman in a Disney film. This is more than a touching scene, shining a light on a Biblical truth about selflessness.
In Philippians 2:3-4, the Lord tells us to live in humility and to put the interests of others before our own. Being prideful only gets in the way of communicating God’s love to others. By having a humble heart and looking out for others, we are examples of Christ’s love for us. While our hearts aren’t frozen and in need of an act of true love like Anna, we can become cold and uncaring for our neighbors. Olaf teaches a valuable lesson about the importance of prioritizing the needs of others before our desires.
Sacrificial Love Is Powerful
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
A common theme throughout FROZEN is the concept of true love. While most fairytales center around romantic love, the film’s surprising twist unfolds when Anna sacrifices her life to save her sister when Hans is about to kill Elsa. Anna forgoes her true love’s kiss from Kristoff to save Elsa and, in doing so, demonstrates an act of true love, breaking the cold curse. It’s a beautiful picture of sacrificial love, and we can all learn from Anna’s selfless act. In truth, it’s an allegory for the sacrifice of Christ’s death for our sins.
Romans 5:8 says that God shows his love for us by sending his son to die for us, even though we are sinners. There is no act of love more pure than Jesus giving his life for us on the cross. Believers can take heart, knowing that our sins are forgiven when we accept Him. While we aren’t cursed to live in an infinite winter like the citizens of Arendelle, our hearts can feel frozen when we choose not to walk with God. The love of Christ melts away our sinful past and thaws the hardest of hearts.
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