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Book Review
Inside out, upside down and 'round the
right way:
Finding peace in a crazy mixed up world.
Meredith Resce; Golden Grain, 2001
Review by Jenni van Wageningen
It's not what's wrong with the world, but what's wrong with your heart',
the author tells us. It's not circumstances about us that govern how
much fulfilment we get from life - it's how we respond to the
circumstances.
This book encourages us to not only take an honest look at the way we feel, but also urges us to clearly face past disappointments and hurts, as well as accept responsibility for our own mistakes and actions, avoiding the Victim mentality. It is vitally important to forgive those who have hurt us if we are to avoid a self-destructive build-up of bitterness and resentment.
Although the mind, the emotions and the will are all intertwined and
influence each other, they all need to come under the sway of God's
spirit. The mind, the author tells us, is a battleground and we must
fight to take control, challenging the pattern of wrong thoughts and
establishing new patterns of thought.
In every section of the book she provides many practical steps for the
reader, as well as useful tables and diagrams to enhance our
understanding of the issues.
There are chapters on learning to trust, on developing discernment and
on learning to relate to other people in a more meaningful way.
This is not just another popular psychology book on getting to know
yourself and improving your relationships with others. Meredith Resce
refers the reader to many relevant Bible passages for careful and
prayerful meditation. She points out that with any theory or method you
hear about, it is important to make sure it is backed firmly by God's
word.
'It is not a theory or method that brings you healing: it is God and
comes through obedience to his Word.'
While this book does not have all the answers and skims over the surface
with many issues, I would still recommend it for a perspective on self
and relationships examined in the light of God's word.
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