Chronicles of Narnia - Voyage of the Dawn Treader

a bunch of us finally went to watch narnia tonight. i've been wanting to see it for quite a while now, so i was pretty excited. i really enjoyed it, even though it was not quite as good as the book, and it really amazed me how much God was speaking to me through the movie. 

in the movie, lucy struggles with her self-image, thinking that she's not as pretty as her older sister and longs to look like her. she would try anything to change her looks for the better, even at the risk of losing herself. then Aslan appears to remind her of who she really is and how her siblings would never have known narnia existed if it were not for her. watching that scene, i could feel God just reassuring me what He told me just a few days ago. that He loved me for who i was, and what other people think don't matter because all that matters is what He thinks and He thinks i'm perfect, just the way He created me to be. 

as the crew embarks on the final leg of their journey to find the 7th sword, they are warned that there would be many temptations but they need stay strong and not give in. it was a reminder of the road that lies ahead will have temptations. esp with all the new decisions and commitments i've made. but like i learned at the conference, i'll need to stay strong. and even if i mess up, to just bounce right back into place, and keep moving forward. 

when they made it to the entrance to aslan's world, prince caspian was given the opportunity to enter, to see if his dad was there, with the one condition that he will never return to narnia. even though he seemed to have chosen to enter at first, he stops at the wall of water and turns back. his reason was that he was done fighting for what had been taken away, and it was time to start fighting for what he has been given, like his kingdom. it felt like God was reminding me of what He had promised when he healed me of all my emotional pain. i had held on to what had been taken away from me all those years, and now it was time to let go and focus on what He has blessed me with. it was time to start embracing what i have, not fighting for what's already lost. 

in several different ways, edmund reminded me so much of myself. when he got frustrated because he was tired of always having to play 2nd string to someone else, like his older brother peter and prince caspian. it was just like me, when i got tired of always having to try so hard to please others and never being good enough. when he made the mistake of thinking of his biggest nightmare, and the sea serpent appears, he blames himself for it. that was just like me all those years, everything that went wrong was my fault, even if it was beyond my control. but i could feel God telling me that it was all over. it was time to let it go. He has taken it all away, and that i won't ever go back that way. 

towards the end, when it came for aslan and the kids to part, lucy knew that she would never return to narnia, because she had grown up, but aslan promised that He would always be watching over her. it was right at that point that i could feel God telling me, He knew i was afraid. i have made all these new commitments, and i feared that i would fail, or that i would go back to who i used to be. but He wanted me to know that He will always be with me, no matter what i'm going through, and that i could trust in Him. 

after the movie, when i got back to my room, i decided to spend some time just going through everything that God has been speaking to me about and i realize just how much God know me. it's mind blowing. He knew that it wasn't going to take me too long before i started asking questions, or doubting, and even though it's only been a few days, He's already found ways to reassure me over and over again, that He will be faithful and true to the end. 

it's about right now that i wish that there was a pause button for everything that God has been telling me, because my tiny brain can only digest so much at the time. at the same time, i think it really teaches me to depend on God and ask Him to help me understand everything that He's trying to tell me. 


oh. did i mention, i LOVE waking up to a painless back and being filled with so much joy, i can't helping grinning ridiculously to myself! :)