Lessons from the Soil: Why Your Soul Needs a Garden
There is something profoundly healing about a garden; the way the cool soil feels on your bare feet and hands after a long week. In a world that is increasingly digital and “plugged in,” the garden invites us to do the opposite: to unplug, to kneel down, and to remember where we came from.
I’m a firm believer that we were never meant to be this disconnected from the earth. After all, the very first home God designed for us wasn’t a building; it was a garden. Yet we often stay completely unplugged from nature and wonder why we can’t thrive.
The Seed and the Soul
Do you ever look at people who seem to have incredible strength and unshakable faith and wonder how they got there? We want to be the towering oak tree, but we forget that every oak started as a tiny, vulnerable seed that got pushed down into the dirt and survived harsh conditions for years while it grew.
Our spiritual lives work exactly the same way. We do not grow overnight. Every time you open your Bible, you are planting a seed. It needs to be pressed into the soil of a willing heart and watered daily with prayer. Then, as we rely on God through every trial and storm of life, our roots will develop deeper and stronger until one day we will have an unshakable faith of our own. We will be seen as that mighty oak.
Mark 4:27 tells us that the seed sprouts and grows, though the farmer “knows not how.” Our job isn’t to force the growth; our job is to tend the soil, plant the seeds and water them. Being out in the garden reminds us that God grows the towering oak trees; He grows you, too!
The Science of “Getting Your Hands Dirty”
I love that science is finally catching up with God’s design. Being in nature is medicine for the body and the mind. Gardening isn’t just a hobby; it’s a desperately needed health plan.
| Benefit Category | The Impact of Gardening |
| Mental Health | Studies show gardening significantly reduces cortisol (stress) and can be more effective than other relaxing hobbies. |
| Immune System | Exposure to beneficial soil bacteria (Mycobacterium vaccae) actually boosts the immune system and increases serotonin. |
| Physical Vitality | Spending time in the sun provides essential Vitamin D, which is crucial for bone health and mood regulation. |
| Grounding | Direct skin contact with the earth (Earthing) helps neutralize free radicals and improves sleep quality. |
Sources: Journal of Health Psychology Study; National Institutes of Health – Vitamin D and Health; ScienceDirect – Soil Microbes and Mental Health
God created us to play in the dirt that’s why He made the process so beneficial to our human bodies. How much could we step away from pharma if we got back to farming? That’s a question we should ask more often.
Thankfully it doesn’t have to be a hard complicated process, gardening can be done anywhere by anyone.
Beauty for the Eyes, Food for the Table
One of my favorite things about the garden is that it rewards us in two beautiful ways:
- Cutting Gardens: Growing flowers isn’t just about curb appeal. Bringing a jar of fresh-cut blooms inside changes the entire atmosphere of your home. It adds beauty to your space and reminds you of God’s care for every tiny detail of His creation.
2. Kitchen Gardens: There is a special kind of satisfaction in making a meal using vegetables you grew yourself. Not only is the food more nutrient-dense, but it’s a massive help to the grocery budget! When you harvest your own lettuce or tomatoes, you are literally tasting the fruit of your labor.
You don’t need acres of land or big machinery to reap these benefits, a small pot of organic soil in a sunny windowsill will produce more than one might think. It’s truly more about the process anyway.
From the Dust, For the King
In Genesis 2:7, we see that God formed man from the dust of the ground. We are literally made from the earth! I believe that’s why we feel so “at home” gardening and watching things grow. Whether it’s in the physical world around us, in our own spiritual lives or the lives of those we love. Our souls, like soil, needs nurturing.
The more we get our hands in the dirt, the better our lives will be. It clears the mental fog, strengthens our bodies, and teaches us to experience the beautiful, slow rhythm of life as God designed it.
So, let’s get outside, y’all. Let’s plant the seeds, water them well, and watch what God does with the harvest.
Let me know in the comments below what you are most excited about planting in your garden this Spring.
♡ Kim