Welcome back to Feature Friday!
This week, my dear friend, Taylor Dillon, is encouraging us to cling to hope during the COVID-19 pandemic and trust and believe that God can sustain us. She provides a beautiful analogy using the symbolism of the cherry blossom tree to elude to the meaning and promises in God’s word for His people.
Before sharing her post, I wanted to give you a little background about Taylor and how and where you can connect with her on social media for her insight and encouragement. Taylor used to serve in the children’s ministry at the same Church of the King campus our family attends. She actually watched Izzy countless times while we were at church and has babysat him for us.
Taylor studied Children’s Minsitries while attending Church of the King’s Lead college and has recently accepted a position at the Dream Center Foundation in Los Angeles, California. I am so excited for Taylor as she embarks on this exciting, new journey, and cannot wait to see all she accomplishes and how she will make a difference in the lives of others in the L.A. area. To further connect with Taylor and follow along with her future ministry journey, head to her social accounts listed below.
I hope enjoy Taylor Dillon’s message of hope for this new season we are all navigating! Let’s dive in.
Blossoms of Hope
In Japan, the cherry blossom tree is a very important part of their culture. Cherry blossoms bloom and die within a matter of two weeks. Since no one knows when they are going to bloom, or when its time for them to die, they represent the fleeting of life and how it could end tragically at any point. They are also a reminder of how beautiful life is and how we should cherish and appreciate it.
In the face of tragedy, we can be destabilized, asking questions regarding the nature of God and the validity of faith and His promises. But it also enhances the vibrancy of God’s promises to love us, strengthen us, walk with, and bring us through our hard times. Even when it’s not immediate, and our emotions take over.
In this time of uncertainty, and tragedy I think the image of the cherry blossom tree can create a sense of hope for us. None of us know when quarantine is going to end and what our new “normal” is going to look like after all of this. We don’t know when the kids are going to go back to school, when we can see our loved ones, when we can go back to work, or even if we will have a job after all of this.
But this is what we do know:
- These are scary times
- People are dying tragically
- The world is panicked
- And there’s no cure
But we also know:
- God says he has a plan for us (John 3:16)
- This is a fleeting world but God’s word stands firm (Matthew 24;35)
- Joy comes from the Lord and we have no need to panic ( Ecclesiastes 5:20)
- Jesus is the divine healer and he has rescued us time and time again (Psalms 107:20)
Now more than ever it’s important to stay rooted in the Word, and connected to our community. All anxiety, stress, and panic can be counteracted with the Word and worship. Our friends and family can be a source of relief for us in these times of isolation- even if it’s a simple call, text, or Facetime. Stay connected and keep worshiping.
Remember, when it looks like your cherry blossoms aren’t going to bloom, there is always spring after a long winter.
Worship songs to listen to during this time for encouragement:
Cherry Blossoms by Andy Squyres
I’ll Give Thanks by Housefires
Found by Chris Renzema
Faith and Wonder by UPPERROOM
The Blessing by Elevation
Forever Amen (the whole album) by Steffany Gretzinger
I also encourage you to read the story of Jehoshaphat in 1 Chronicles 18-20.
Thanks for reading!
Real quick, and I’ll share my thoughts about Taylor’s posts . If you aren’t signed up for my email list, then you are missing out on exclusive content and updates from Sarah.Mozingo.com and a great source of inspiration and encouragement throughout the week!
Hey, it’s me again! I absolutely loved how my friend, Taylor, used a simple flower to remind us that God truly makes beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3). Taylor’s message encouraged me that even though during this time of uncertainty, we can be certain that God has a plan, and He is for us during this time.
She reminded us to lean into our community and faith to make it through such a difficult season for each of us. No one has been immune to the effects of this virus- life as we knew it has completely changed. But I can assure you that our God has not. Love, hope, faith, and community still exists and can thrive if we choose. I hope Taylor’s message has served as a reminder of hope for you in this season, and I am incredibly proud and excited to see how she will impact the world in her next venture.
Once again, if you’d like to further connect with Taylor, her social media handles are listed below:
If you’d like more encouragement during this time, check out my post, “COVID-19 may produce some of the most resilient generations we have ever seen.“
If you like what I share on this blog, make sure to follow me on social @sarahfordmozingo on Instagram and Facebook!
SarahMozingo.com 
Leave a Reply