Checkmate (pt.4):A Tangled Mind

One of my absolute favorite Disney movies is Tangled, the ultimate “damsel in distress” story. Besides the lifelike animation, catchy soundtrack, and lovable characters (Flynn Rider, am I right, ladies?), the movie has an engaging plot that is timeless (both because it is as old as the hills, and because it seems new every time). Who doesn’t love sarcastic vigilantes, sword-fighting horses, manipulative parents, near death experiences, and magical hair? But today I want to hone in on one important character in Tangled: Mother Gothel. Why? Mother Gothel, like countless Disney villains before her, specializes in manipulation, using lies and false gestures of affection to keep Rapunzel safely enslaved in her tower. Coincidentally, one of the tactics the Devil uses to enslave us and break down our relationship with the Lord is manipulative lies that make us doubt our identity. If the Devil can make us doubt who God says we are and who God created us to be, we will be rendered powerless. However, God has given us a weapon of strength to fight the Devil’s lies, and that weapon is the belt of truth. When Rapunzel listened to the voice of her mother, she was held captive and her powers were used for selfish purposes, but when she realized the truth about the princess she was, she was able to throw off the bondage that had held her for so long. Through scripture, God gives us precious promises about his character and our identity that can free us from untrue though patterns and attitudes.

So without further ado, lets take a look at some of the lies that Gothel tells Rapunzel, and compare them to the lies our enemy tries to convince us of every day.

Lie #1: You should be worried (The world is dark and cruel)

One of the first lies that Mother Gothel is able to convince Rapunzel of, is the lie that the worlds is dark, cruel, and heartless, without any ray of hope or sunshine. She suggested that if Rapunzel ever went outside the safety of what she knew, thousands of horrors would immediately befall her. Satan Uses the same deception when he encourages us to only focus on the negative things happening in our world. He will convince us that we have much to fear, and make us doubt God’s ability to sustain and protect us.

Although we recognize that as sinful human beings living in a fallen world, there will be plenty of trouble and heartbreak, We can rest in the assurance that Jesus “has over come the world” (John 16:33). As psalm 91 says, we don’t have to “fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” Why? The Lord says, “Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” (Psalm 91: 14-15)

Lie #2: Your thoughts and opinions don’t matter

Gothel is constantly interrupting Rapunzel, mocking her speech or discrediting her ideas out right. At one point, when Rapunzel begins to mumble out an idea, Gothel stops her with a sarcastic, “Blah blah blah blah blah, [your speech is] very annoying!” Whenever we have an idea or thought that is good, or that is inspired by God, Satan will try to discredit it. He will tell us that our ideas are stupid, or that they are merely impossible fantasies that are unachievable in the real world.

However, as the angel Gabriel told Mary right before she conceived a baby through the Holy Spirit, “Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) If an idea or though is God-inspired, he will bring the plan to fruition, and nothing can stop him. Again and again scripture highlights the importance of “having the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16), because God cares deeply about the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. Therefore, our thoughts and Ideas definitely matter to him.

Lie #3: Everyone is judging you (and their opinions matter more than anything else)

In addition to discrediting her ideas, Gothel intentionally points out characteristics Rapunzel has that are imperfect, insinuating that she will never be able to be accepted for who she is, but will receive judgement from others for how she looks and acts. On one occasion , Mother Gothel calls her “Sloppy, under-dressed, immature, and clumsy”, and only a few minutes later tells her that she is “Gullible, naive, positively grubby, ditzy and a bit…vague.” Because of the self-conscious mindset this develops, Gothel is inadvertently teaching Rapunzel that the most important indicator of value in her life is the opinion of others. How often does the devil plant seeds of jealousy and feelings of inadequacy in our hearts when we look at the “perfect” lives of others and compare them to all our imperfections.

While it is true that “man looks at the outward appearance”, scripture says that “The lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). Ultimately, It is the Lord’s opinion that we should value, not the opinion of others around us. He made us exactly the way he intended to, flaws and all.

Lie #4: You are not worthy of love

This is one that gets me fired up! Not only does Mother Gothel point out Rapunzel’s flaws and discredit her ideas and ability, She blatantly tells Rapunzel that she is not worthy of love. When Rapunzel discloses her love for the dashing Flynn Rider and her hope that he likes her back, her mother responds with, “Likes you? Please, Rapunzel, that’s demented……Why would he like you? Come on now, really! Look at you, you think that he’s impressed?”

Though we would be quick to remind Rapunzel that she is valuable and worthy of love, we ourselves are also sucked into the same mindset. The devil loves to bring up our past hurts and hangups to convince us that no one ever could, or should love us. We are too ugly, or sinful, or prideful, or weird, etc. etc.

If you hear nothing else from this blog post, hear this: you are worthy, because Christ calls you worthy. Your maker has deemed you valuable because he created you and he loves you. In one of my favorite passages, Isaiah 43:1, scripture declares

“But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’ “

And again in verse 4, God says

“Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.”

If God was willing to come to earth and die for us, I think that is a pretty good indicator of the value he places on us. Nothing, not even the most heinous sin, can separate us from the Love of Christ.

Lie #5: You are not ____________ enough

There are thousands of little moments in Tangled where mother Gothel belittles Rapunzel, and they al have one thing in common: they make her feel like she is not enough. The devil plants those same thoughts in our life. He is constantly reminding us that we are not _______. But God Says “I AM”.

When Satan says you are not pretty enough, God says, I AM your creator, and I see the beauty in you that no one else sees. (Psalm 139:1-18)

When Satan says you are not strong enough, God says, I AM your strength and song. You can do all things through me, for I will give you strength. (Philippians 4:13, Psalm 118:14)

When Satan says you are not righteous enough, God says, I AM your righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:6, 1 Cor. 1:30)

Whenever Satan attacks us with a statement about what we are not, We can rest assured that God is! Therefore, whenever we are faced with the Devil’s lies, let us use the precious promises God gives us in scripture to defeat lies with truth.