Book Review - The Garden Within by Dr. Anita Phillips

I haven't written as much as I did in the past but writing is still cathartic. It's peaceful and often when I'm writing, I'm worshipping my Creator. Sometimes I desire to write, but the words aren't there. And while God understands our inaudible words and moans, that would simply translate to a blank page that many would not understand.

So today, hopefully, the words will come. A cataclysmic event happened in our country on November 5th, and I was deeply disappointed with the results. I still am, but I know that I must take care of my heart. So it was fortuitous that I was reading The Garden Within during this time of deep disappointment.

As Christians, we unwittingly view emotions as bad or something we have to control and tamp down. How many of you have heard, "You're too emotional" as if that were a ding against you? And having heard that for most of your life, how does that make you feel? For a lot of my life, I tried to manage my emotions to make those around me feel better to my own detriment. Being cool, calm, and collected was the goal. I have realized that this is not a beneficial way to live. God made me, all of me, emotions and all, and he said I am good; I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Dr. Anita's book was an affirmation of what I've instinctively known and came at just the right time.

The Creator planted a garden for us, then the Creator planted a garden within us. The parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23) is used to amplify the metaphor of the garden within each of us. The soil in the parable is our hearts. Every element of the garden is accounted for in this parable. When Jesus interprets the parable (vv 18-23) every element of our inner workings is revealed. Jesus tells us the seeds are words. The fruit represents what we do. The ground represents our heart. Your heart is the soil where spiritual seeds are planted. Your heart anchors the root of your mind. Your heart nourishes the fruit you produce. Your heart is the soil of your life. A garden's condition depends on its soil. The condition of the garden within you - spiritually, mentally, and physically depends on the soil of your heart. That means embracing your feelings, all of them.

In The Garden Within, Dr. Anita Phillips skillfully uses the metaphor of a garden to represent the inner emotional and spiritual life. Just as a physical garden requires nurturing, careful tending, and protection from harmful elements to flourish, so too does the human heart and soul. This central metaphor underscores the importance of self-care, reflection, and active engagement with one’s emotional well-being to foster growth and healing.

The heart, in Phillips’ book, is portrayed as the core of the “garden” within. It is not just an organ or a symbol of fleeting emotions; rather, it is the seat of deep feelings, thoughts, and spiritual life. Phillips emphasizes that the heart is where emotional and spiritual truths intersect. This perspective aligns with the biblical idea that the heart is the wellspring of life—what flows from it affects every aspect of a person's being.

I am typically a quick reader; I finish a book in five days tops and sometimes within a day. But this book had so many moments of revelation and deep knowledge that I needed time to absorb and process what I read. I actually prayed that God would make the insight gained a part of me. That I wouldn't read it and spit it out but rather use it to nurture my heart. This book took me three weeks to finish. Wow!

My biggest takeaway is, that no emotion is a sin, and living from the heart is rewarding.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isaiah 58:11)

Whatever you're going through right now, may the truths found in God's word restore your heart. And if you're like me, curious to know more and sometimes struggling with the way God made you - a unique blessed creation, I hope the wisdom in Dr. Anita's book provides additional fresh insight.

--Nylse

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