In my last post I talked about Biblical Lessons on Fear from Disney’s Frozen, and touched on today’s post Biblical Lessons From Frozen: Bitterness. In my previous post I mentioned that something that can easily be overlooked in Frozen is that it was Elsa’s heart that was truly frozen, not Anna’s. You see while Anna may have been dealing with the physical effects of a frozen heart, it was actually Elsa whose heart was so frozen that she couldn’t even see what she was doing to those around her.

The quote from the movie was “true love” can “melt an icy heart” and it was indeed Anna’s true love for Elsa that melted her heart. If you notice Elsa doesn’t show any emotion towards Anna after Anna’s memories are changed. Before this scene Elsa was afraid of hurting her, so she shut her out emotionally, and once her powers were revealed she was self-absorbed and didn’t seem to care about anyone but herself.
Biblical Lessons From Frozen: Bitterness

Elsa started out as a loving sister, who enjoyed spending time with her sister Anna, but after the accident all of that changed. Over time Elsa began to change. While the core of her isolation was to protect Anna and herself, it planted a seed of bitterness in Elsa’s heart and when Elsa’s powers were revealed she ran away and that bitterness turned into selfishness. In Elsa’s mind she didn’t owe anyone anything, after all she had spent her entire life doing what was best for others with no appreciation (Anna couldn’t appreciate Elsa’s sacrifice because she was unaware, and actually hurt by being abandon).
The lyrics of the now famous song “Let It Go” explain Elsa’s feelings, and give us a raw and honest look at the heart of someone who has been hurt, grown bitter, and decided to seek their own happiness regardless of what it costs others.
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn’t keep it in, heaven knows I tried!Elsa is facing a storm of emotions: Think about how you would feel. Hurt, Bitter, Excited, Anxious
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, now they know!
Here Elsa talks about what life was like living under the “curse of her power”. Living in fear she had to be “perfect” and hide who she really was, but now everyone knows the truth about her. This has to bring her a feeling of freedom, but instead of sticking around to explain herself or her life she runs away.
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!
Elsa has declared that she can no longer hide who she is, so now she’s letting go of the life she’s lived for so long, and is slamming the door behind her. She doesn’t want to live in fear of hurting others, it’s so much easier for her if she can just go somewhere and be alone, and be free to be who she wants to be. Instead of dealing with the crippling emotions of pain, bitterness, and anxiety, she’s decided to embrace them because she’s always felt this way, but has never been able to show it.
It’s funny how some distance
Makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me
Can’t get to me at all!It’s time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me I’m free!Let it go, let it go
I am one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go
You’ll never see me cry!

The funny thing here is that Elsa thinks that her problem is solved. She thinks that by running away and choosing her own path and happiness that nothing is controlling her, but she’s mistaken. Now Elsa is controlled by her selfishness. She’s ready to see who she can be, with no rules or regard for anyone but herself. She’s determined to make this life work, and she only needs herself to do it. She say’s you’ll never see me cry, which is her way of saying that she’s buried her pain and emotions, they are in the past and now that she’s doing it Elsa’s way, she won’t be needing emotions anymore, and she will no longer feel pain.
We have all been at a point where we feel like we’ve done all we can do. We sacrifice for others and they walk all over us. We try to help, and don’t get any acknowledgement. When you start to feel pain turn to bitterness it’s time to look at your heart and figure out what’s happening inside you. Bitterness can grow quickly and if unchecked can lead to a world of pain and trouble.
Elsa’s bitterness caused her to hurt everyone around her and she almost killed her sister (the only person that truly loved her).
Can you imagine the jealousy Elsa must have felt towards Anna for being normal, and not being locked away in her room? Sure, she couldn’t leave the castle, but at least she could leave her room. At least she didn’t have to try so hard to be perfect. Those feelings lead to bitterness, and those feelings are understandable, but bitterness is not a prison God wants us to be trapped in. He wants to give us true freedom, even when our circumstances make that feel impossible.
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many Hebrews 12:15
Do you see what God is doing in your life today? Do you know that God allows you to go through trials and pain for your growth? Don’t let the bitterness you feel turn your heart cold towards God and those who love you. Trust God with your life, and know that he will judge our works, not man.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you Ephesians 4:31-32
Don’t let the storm take control of you, you can go to God for help in controlling the storm. Left unchecked this storm will wreck havoc on your life and the lives of those around you.
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly 1 Peter 2:23
Pain is real, and people are sinful. Friends and family may hurt you, life’s circumstances may feel unfair, but trusting God will change your perspective, and give you a story to tell that will help others who are going through the same thing.

As for the song above, I would rewrite it like this:
The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation,
But I don’t have to be it’s queen.The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
No need to keep it in, no need to hide!I’ve let Him, I’ve let Him see
I can be the girl he is making me
I feel, I love, I’ll let it show
And now they know!Let it go, let it goNo bitterness anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door!I don’t care
What they’re going to say
Won’t let the storm rage on,
God’s got my back anyway!It’s funny how some distance
Makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me
Can’t get to me at all!It’s time to see what God do
To pray for others and break through
No doubt, no fear, no chains for me I’m free!Praying today that we would all be free from the bitterness that can freeze our hearts.