When I was young, I looked forward to the once-a-year showing of “The Wizard of Oz” on television. This was back before DVD’s…before VHS tapes…. I’m talking way back when. I loved the story of how Dorothy and her friends found out that everything they wanted was there all along but never realized it.
There are many life lessons in that story for us all, and actually those lesson were in God’s Word long before Dorothy and Toto ever took a trip to the land of Oz.
I know it’s impossible, but I wish I could go back in time and have a little chat with my “junior high self”. I would tell her these 4 lessons from Oz…but she probably knew them all along but never realized it.
The Scarecrow- Young lady, use your brain.
Daniel 5:14- “I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.”
Work hard to make the best grades you can. If you struggle in a subject it’s ok to get help. Don’t procrastinate, plan your time. Being the most popular or prettiest girl in school matters very little after graduation. Knowledge and kindness goes a long way.
Spend your money wisely now. Open a bank account and start saving. When you graduate you’ll be able to help with expenses. Start tithing now, there are tremendous blessings when you give back to God.
Make smart choices. Don’t risk doing something stupid to try to look cool or to fit in. When it’s all said and done, you will look back at it for what it was…. really dumb. So be smart! You will need job references one day and a good reputation helps tremendously.
The Tin Man- Young lady, guard your heart.
Proverbs 31:30 “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Spend time growing a beautiful heart. Outward beauty will not last. Do you spend more time looking at Pinterest for new hairstyles, clothes and makeup than you do reading your Bible?
Choosing a guy who loves God really matters in life! Be careful who you date and who you share your heart with. Hearts are easily broken and take time to heal. In dating and marrying you usually get what you are, not what you want. So make sure you have a relationship with God because you will need discernment in matters of the heart.
Choose your friends carefully. Friends can be like elevators, they can take you up or take you down. You will soon become who you surround yourself with. Your heart can be easily influenced by the words of a friend. Find friends who love Jesus.
The Lion-Young lady, have courage.
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Be confident in who God made you. Insecurity is a huge waste of time. Develop the talents and gifts that God has given you and don’t waste time wishing you had someone else’s.
Don’t be afraid to fail. Stand up in front of that class and give a speech, try out for the school play, take music lessons, be in the band.
You can do great things now. Please don’t wait until you are older to get involved in church. You can be a huge help right now in your church. Find a ministry to participate in, bring friends to church, have a good testimony, and tell others about Jesus.
Remember, your courage comes from God. You will go through hard times. No one is exempt from problems. People you are close to may die, money problems or divorce may come to your family. People will let you down, but God will never fail you.
Dorothy-Young lady, have faith.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
You reap what you sow. Do you want to know God’s word? Study it now. Do you want to be able to play an instrument well? Practice now. Do you want friends? Be friendly. Do you want to marry pure? Set boundaries before you’re alone with a guy. Do you want to be healthy? Eat right and exercise now.
Get to know God. Develop a relationship with God. Nurture it by reading your Bible, writing in a journal, going to church, listening to good Christian music. Your parents, preacher or youth pastor are not your connection to God. You can pray straight to Him. He wants to hear from you.
There’s no yellow brick road to follow to get you through life. However, God gave you a road map- the Bible. You have parents, teachers, mentors, and others to keep you on the right path. Actually, God has given you everything you need. It’s up to you to use the tools and trust Him with your life.
One of the greatest lessons to learn from the Wizard of Oz is that no one, not even the wizard, was able to help the characters in the movie with their problems. Only God is able to completely bring peace and contentment in your life. He knows you, He created you and He loves you!
Psalm 139:14 “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
Note: I taught this lesson to the teen girls at our church. Here is a cute hand out for the girls to take notes on. Lessons from the Land of Oz printable
I also gave each girl one of these adorable magnetic bookmarks to use as a reminder of the lesson. Land of Oz magnetic page clips
New Year, New You or New Beginnings
Tune My Heart 