Raise your hand if you’ve ever cried a kid’s movie before…🙋‍♀️

From Mufasa’s death in The Lion King, to Andy giving Woody to Bonnie in Toy Story 3- it’s clear that Disney and Pixar know what they’re doing when it comes to pulling on the heartstrings.

For me, another movie that comes to mind is Inside Out. From an outside perspective, you feel like you’re getting a cutesy animated Pixar movie about emotions in your head. But in reality- you’re served a movie with tough lessons like growing up, how change is inevitable, and learning that it’s okay to be sad. (We’re not even going to mention Bing Bong. If you know, you know.)

Going into the sequel, I knew that they would be adding other emotions into the fray- like embarrassment, envy, and anxiety. So I was fully prepared to sob at a moment’s notice. (I am naturally a very emotional human, no pun intended.)

With the addition of the new emotions, the second movie explains this concept of “core beliefs.” The film claims that core beliefs are the thoughts that you choose to remember that ultimately make you who you are. You can see the cringey youth group sermon loading now.

These beliefs can be bad or good. One of the thoughts that became a belief for Riley in the movie was, “I’m not good enough.” This belief started to completely change all of Riley’s reactions, decisions, and really her identity. Her beliefs became her identity.

The truth is, I still struggle with that thought sometimes. I’m sure you do too. But the beautiful thing about faith is that as believers, our identity is in Jesus. Here are some core beliefs that God says about you:

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139)
There is a plan for my life. My future is good. (Jeremiah 29:11)
I am chosen. (1 Peter 2:9)
I have peace that doesn’t make sense. (Philippians 4:7)
I don’t have to worry about tomorrow. Or what other people think of me. (Matthew 6)
I can do hard things. (Philippians 4:13)
I am loved. (John 3:16, Romans 8:38)

**Spoilers included** There is a scene at the end of the movie where Riley has an anxiety attack. Her body shuts down and her other emotions are unable to step in because anxiety has taken over. The only emotion that steps in is Joy and she says these words:

‘You don’t get to choose who Riley is. Anxiety, you need to let her go.’ | Joy

To those who have seen the film- you might have missed it, but for a second of a frame, Riley sees light shining through a window. And then she feels joy and her anxiety takes a step back. For me, that light is Jesus.

I have been in Riley’s shoes before. Consumed by negative thoughts, and letting anxiety rule my life.

Right now you may feel anxious or worried or sad or lonely or whatever complex emotion you could even think of feeling- but Jesus will always step in and He will give you joy. I am not defined by my anxiety. You are not defined by your anxiety. When you believe in Him, He will define you. Your identity is in Christ. And He died just for you.

Conversations around faith and mental health can sometimes get dicey. Here’s my take: if we were perfect, we wouldn’t need Him. You can’t judge someone’s faith based on their mental state. You can only encourage them to know what God said in His word.

So yeah, it may just be a kids movie. But it was a great reminder of how my belief in Jesus makes me who I am. Emotions will come and go, but Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

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