Moana Bible Verses – The Believer’s Journey

Greetings, friends, and happy summer! Today I bring you a massive over-analysis of Disney’s Moana, comparing it to various aspects of our lives as believers (The Believer’s Journey, if you will 😜). Enjoy!

Fandom: Disney’s Moana (the entire story arc)

Verses: Psalm 119:10, 111; 1 thessalonians 2:11-12; jeremiah 6:16, isaiah 45:1-5, proverbs 17:17, 1 peter 2:9, 2 corinthians 5:15-21

Truth: In every part of our journey as believers, God is with us and will equip us with what we need.

Part One: Baby Moana’s seashell treasures

The first step in this journey is that of baby Moana in the first scenes of the movie, fearlessly taking step after step into the ocean to collect the precious seashells that the ocean gave her. This scene reminds me of the first steps of faith we take as new beleivers, collecting truth nuggets as we learn who God is and how we can relate to Him.

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! … Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 

Psalm 119:10,111

You can read the full post I wrote about this scene here (one of the first ones I ever wrote!) 🐚

Part Two: How Far I’ll Go

The next step in our/Moana’s journey is the How Far I’ll Go scene, both the original and the reprise, where Moana becomes committed to her mission to cross the sea and restore the heart of Tephiti. At first, she tries to cross the reef on her own, and failed… but after her gandmother dies, Moana becomes fully committed to her mission. In the same way, following Christ is a daily choice, a series of decisions to walk in step with the Spirit rather than giving in to the desires of the flesh.

For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 ESV

Part Three: Maui’s friendship

No man is an island, and it’s important for us as believers to live in community and fellowship with others in order to grow and expand the Kingdom. Maui and Moana’s relationship shows a good example of two people who are thrown together with a shared mission and have to work through their insecurities and flaws together in order to succeed. I love how their relationship develops from stubborn and uncooperative to anticipating the other’s needs and trusting that they know what’s best.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

Part Four: I Am Moana

This is one of my favorite scenes in the entire Moana storyline. Right after her failed battle with Tekah, when she is feeling defeated and has just asked the ocean to “choose someone else,” Moana’s grandma comes to visit her in spirit form. She reminds her of the strength and determination that she always had to restore Tephiti and save her people. The gentle words of Moana’s grandmother remind me of Holy Spirit’s counsel (which I wrote more about in this post).

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

Part Five: Who You Are

Okay, this scene made me tear up a little the first time I saw it, and it still gives me all the feels every time I hear the song. In the climactic moment of the story, Moana suddenly realizes that Te Ka isn’t her enemy; she is actually Te Fiti, driven mad by her lost heart. Moana chooses to see through the hard and fiery exterior to the real problem, and risks her life to give Te Fiti back her heart. Of course, this reminds me of the ultimate mission of every believer, everywhere: to see through the surface-level hostility or flaws of our fellow humans and speak to what they truly need.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 ESV

Part Six: We Know the Way/End Scene

The final scene that I wanted to talk about for this Moana Bible verses post is the “we were voyagers!”/We Know the Way scene, and the end scene where the people of Motunui reclaim their voyager heritage. Moana first discovers this with the help of her grandma and the spirits of her ancestors, who appear when she bangs on an ancient drum. The song “We Know the Way” and the general idea of ancestor wisdom and heritage reminds me of the importance of consulting previous generations of believers, whether through writing or in person, to gain wisdom and insight.

Thus says the LORD:

“Stand by the roads, and look,

and ask for the ancient paths,

where the good way is; and walk in it,

and find rest for your souls.

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Jeremiah 6:16 ESV

Here’s a commentary on this verse that I found very useful and I think you will too 🙂

I hope you’ve enjoyed this comparison between Moana’s story arc and our journey as followers of Christ. What’d you think? Have any thoughts to share? I’d love to hear them!

Happy fangirling!