Let it Go!

The Disney children's movie Frozen has been a huge success, and the hit song "Let it go!" has perhaps found even greater success with both children and adults alike because of the catchy tune. As I listened to the lyrics the other day, I found much truth to this song. The first part of the song goes like this:

                               The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
                                         Not a footprint to be seen
                                           A kingdom of isolation,
                                  And it looks like I'm the queen.

                              The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
                                Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried!

                                 Don't let them in, don't let them see
                                  Be the good girl you always have to be
                                 Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know
                                    Well, know they know!

                                       Let it go, let it go
                                    Can't hold it back anymore.
                                      Let it go, let it go
                                    Turn away and slam the door!

                                      I don't care
                                   What they're going to say
                                  Let the storm rage on,
                                The cold never bothered me anyway!

You see, in the movie, Elsa, the older sister has a secret. It is a secret that could hurt others if it is found out. She tries to contain this icy power, to keep it hidden from others for fear of what they will think if they know what's going on inside her and her home. She secludes herself from even her closest family members. She is then rescued by her fearless sister, Ana!

Have you, like Elsa, had ugly storms rage within your house and in your life? Do sins of your past haunt you? Have things happened that if the outside world knew, you'd be looked upon badly? So, like many, you've worked to be the 'good girl' that a Christian girl is perceived to be, but no matter how hard you've tried to hold it all together- your children, your spouse and you yourself just keep finding yourselves in the middle of an ugly storm. Your heart cries, "What if others knew about this mess? What would they say?"

As I read and listened the lyrics over and over, I felt God gently whisper to my soul-- "Let it go!"to the aches in my heart. I needed to be reminded of his forgiveness and power. I needed to be refocused on Him and not the world swirling around me. I needed to let go of my need to control and desire to be storm free.

We don't need to have it all together. We don't need to keep the storms under control. When we try to manage the storm we do more damage than good. Like Elsa, we need to let go and get on with the business of our God. As a Christian, we can be in the middle of an ugly storm and still witness to others because the storm doesn't define us. It's the way we stand firm in our faith that is the testimony of Christ, not the lack of storms! And this is why James says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it's works so you will be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4  So, Let it go! Let the storms rage on because they will refine you, not define you!