Recently, my daughter’s preschool gave us free tickets to Inside Out 2, and I was surprised at how well the movie handled the issue of preteen emotions. As usual, Pixar created a beautiful story, which is something God’s people should always appreciate as followers of the Great Storyteller who is the source of beauty. But beyond that, Inside Out 2 conveyed a lot of truth. Of course, as a secular movie, it’s missing the key piece of the gospel. But as Christians, we can edify ourselves and others by examining the themes of Inside Out 2 through a biblical-gospel lens. (Warning: Slight spoilers ahead!)

Be Honest about Yourself

Throughout the movie, the main character, Riley, struggles with feeling like she’s not good enough. Her internal emotions try to solve this by either ignoring anything that makes her feel inadequate or anxiously planning for every possible failure. Both create disaster.

However, a key moment happens when Riley accepts the truth about herself: she isn’t good enough. And that’s OK. As Riley’s preteen personality changes, she has to be honest about herself, both the good and the bad. She’s kind, but she’s not the best hockey player. She loves her friends, but she can be a grouch. Riley finds peace only when she honestly accepts that she’s not perfect.

It’s the same with us. Accepting the truth about yourself is one of the first steps to positive change. You’re not perfect, and, thankfully, you don’t have to be. Jesus was perfect in your place. If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you can rest in the reality that his innocent blood washed away your sins. You can rejoice because his perfect righteousness eternally covers all of your imperfections.

Some imperfect things about us and our lives aren’t sinful, such as our physical appearance or a traumatic experience. As a child of God, you can embrace these. God made you the way you are. He has sovereignly orchestrated every part of your life, even the painful and embarrassing parts (Psalm 139).

Don’t try to cover up everything that seems inadequate. Don’t anxiously try to prevent any and every mistake. Be honest about yourself. You’re human, and you’re not perfect. And that’s OK, because Jesus was perfect for you.

You Can Control Anxiety

Anxiety is a major theme and character in Inside Out 2. At one point, the new emotion Anxiety has taken over Riley and gotten out of control. The old emotions question if Anxiety is unstoppable. They wonder if this is what it means to grow up: to be controlled by anxiety and stop feeling joy.

Thankfully, the movie correctly answers, “No!” I’m incredibly grateful that the movie didn’t make Riley live crippled by anxiety or take medication. Instead, she learned to control her anxiety.

While Inside Out 2 gives a few methods for how to calm anxiety, the Bible gives a cure for anxiety. You can trust in your sovereign Father’s promises and provision (Matthew 6:19-34). In prayer, you can exchange your worries and fears for supernatural peace (Philippians 4:4-9; 1 Peter 5:6-7). If you’re a child of God, you don’t need to let fear and worry control you. You can control your anxiety because your Heavenly Father is in control of everything.

Anxiety is Rooted in Idolatry

I have to look cool in front of the high school girls. I have to impress the coach. I have to make the hockey team. These kinds of thoughts fuel Riley’s anxiety in Inside Out 2. The biblical term for this is idolatry, and this movie powerfully portrays that idolatry leads to anxiety.

If you’re controlled by anxiety, you can be sure of this: you’re seeking satisfaction and security in something other than God. It could be money, sex, entertainment, sports, a relationship. Whatever it is, those idols only create more worry because those objects are unstable and insufficient. Money can run out or be stolen. Sex and entertainment will cease to satisfy. Your sports team can lose. Relationships can be broken.

The only path to lasting peace is properly worshiping God. His resources never run out. His control never falters. His all-satisfying love never changes. Idolatry fuels anxiety, but proper worship produces peace.

Life is Meant to be Joyful

My favorite scene in the movie is when Riley overcomes her anxiety attack, stops competing with her friends, and plays hockey simply for the joy of playing hockey. When you’re honest about yourself, you relinquish your idols, and you control your anxiety through faith in God, you’re free to enjoy God’s gifts.

This is how God intended life to be. He created a good world full of good things for us to enjoy for his glory. Sin disrupts that enjoyment, but through Christ, our worship is reordered, our anxiety is subdued, and our joy is restored. So trust in Christ, worship God, and enjoy his good gifts for his glory.

Inside Out 2 is an emotional movie in more ways than one, and its story communicates a lot of truth. If you plug in the gospel, you have a healthy recipe for how to overcome anxiety and live in godly peace and joy. I highly recommend watching Inside Out 2, but even more so, I urge you to run to Christ for the beautiful freedom, peace, and joy that he alone can give.