Hakuna Matata & the Bible {plus free printable Scripture cards}

Once a month, my kids and I explore various Montessori themes related to a Disney movie. Last month it was Frozen, and this month we’re learning with The Lion King.

I wanted to explore the saying “Hakuna Matata” and its biblical references with my daughter, Miss G, who’s 3.5 years old.

“Hakuna Matata” is a Swahili saying that means “no worries.” (Just like the song says!)

Ignoring Timon’s speech in the middle of the song which adds in the extra idea of “no responsibilities” (which I would argue is not biblical), I think the idea of leaving our past behind and not worrying is very biblical.

One of the hardest struggles that I have had as a Christian is learning to stop worrying, and start praying. It can be so scary to feel like life or a situation may spiral out of control in any given minute (or like it already has) and just trust that God is taking care of it.

My daughter has recently accepted God as her Father, so I wanted to explain to her the wonderful Covenant that God has made with her, that by faith she is saved and God will take care of her.

I think this is an incredibly easy conversation to have with a preschooler or elementary-aged child because sometimes they have their own ideas of what they want and would make their lives good, and there are often mean grown-ups getting in the way of that.

Here is something like how that conversation went:

Sometimes what we both want for lunch is very different, and because I’m the grown-up, that can be unfair because you just have to eat what I decide, even if you don’t think that’s what’s best. But sometimes, it’s because I’m making the best choices for you. It’s because I know that carrots make your eyes strong and protein makes your muscles big that I make them for you.

I know that sometimes you don’t like eating the carrots, and sometimes the carrots taste better than you think they will, but I know that you are very happy you have strong eyes from eating your carrots. Where’s the farthest you can see in this room?
Sometimes, God makes decisions for us that we might not like. Sometimes he changes everything by himself, and sometimes he whispers the ideas into our hearts and we have to make hard choices to listen or not listen. Do you think it’s sometimes hard not to listen?

God will always take care of us. Sometimes I don’t know how something is going to work out, but I trust that if God thinks that I should have or do something, that He will make sure it happens. When we are worried about something, we should pray to God and ask him for guidance and peace.

Do you have any worries? Do you want to pray to God with me about them?
If you would like to read a Bible passage after your conversation, I highly recommend:

• Matthew 6:25-34
• Luke 12:22-34
• Jeremiah 31:31-34

I created these free printable scripture cards for you and your children to help study and remember what the Bible says about worry. I hope you enjoy them!

And don’t forget, hakuna matata. God’s love means no worries, for the rest of your days.