Happily Hutcheson

In Dora the Explorer, before Dora can cross the bridge, she has to face the Grumpy Old Troll. He stands in the way and won’t let her cross until she answers the riddle correctly, He tries to confuse her. He twists things. He makes her stop and second guess herself

That troll is a lot like the negative voice in our head, giving names.

The grumpy old troll in our lives tells us

• You’re not good enough
• You always mess things up
• You’re too much
• You’re not chosen
• You’ll never change

Sometimes those lies even twist the bits of truth that we know, kinda like the enemy can twist Scripture. A simple mistake becomes “I am a failure.” A weakness becomes “I am worthless.” A sin becomes “I am beyond redemption.”

That’s the riddle, The riddle is……

Will you believe the name the troll gives you, or the name Christ gives you?

Jesus calls you:

• Redeemed
• Chosen
• Forgiven
• Daughter / Son
• New Creation
• Beloved
• More than a conqueror

The troll stands at the bridge of your identity and demands you to agree with a lie before you pass. But like Dora, you don’t move forward by arguing emotionally, you move forward by answering correctly.

The answer is Truth.

When the lie says, “You’re rejected,”

Truth says, I am accepted in the Beloved.

When the lie says, “You’re condemned,”

Truth says, There is now no condemnation.

When the lie says, “You’re alone,”

Truth says, He will never leave nor forsake me.

Every time you answer with truth, you step onto the bridge.

And here’s the magical part:

The troll never disappears because you defeated him emotionally. He disappears because you refused to agree with him.

The bridge represents the crossing from false names to true identity. From shame to sonship. From striving to belonging. From accusation to inheritance.

The enemy’s strategy is always accusation and distortion.

God’s strategy is always declaration and restoration.

You don’t overcome the troll by being louder.

You overcome by knowing who you are. Once you cross that bridge enough times, you realize something powerful: The troll was never the authority.

He was just loud.
Christ is the authority.

Most of all, He already named you.