What Daisies Teach Us About Faith

Friday was National Daisy Day. I’ve always loved daisies because I think they’re such happy-looking flowers. I’m apparently not the only one who thinks this, based on a bit of digging into the meanings people associate with daisies.

The best part is, many traits associated with daisies can also teach us about our faith and remind us about our relationship with God.

5 ways daisies teach us about faith

Daisies are a symbol of innocence and purity. No matter who we are and no matter what we’ve done, we’re pure and innocent in God’s eyes once we repent from what we’ve done and ask for His forgiveness. The Bible tells of many times when people turned away from sins and toward God for a fresh start (the Apostle Paul is a prime example of this, changing from being one of the biggest haters of Christians to one of the biggest preachers for God). God washes us clean.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7 ESV)

But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from everything we’ve done wrong. (1 John 1:9 CEB)

Daisies are a symbol of new beginnings, hope, and fresh perspective. Every day is a new beginning for us and a new chance to give God thanks and try to follow Him. The psalmist tells us that no matter how dark the night may be, joy comes in the morning. Every day holds beauty and hope, even if they might be hard to see at times. God’s mercy toward us also is new every day. Whatever happened yesterday was yesterday. We have a fresh start with God each morning.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5b, NKVJ)

Daisies rest at night. Daisy petals close over the center at night, then reopen in the morning light (which is why they were referred to as “day’s eye” in Old English and where the term “fresh as a daisy” originated). We need physical rest to let our bodies recover from the day’s stress and activities. But we also need spiritual rest, when we talk to and listen for God. Fresh determination and new perspectives come from those times of rest.

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31 NIV)

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. (Psalm 3:5 ESV)

Daisies are hardier than they appear. Daisies can thrive year-round and are able to grow on every continent but Antarctica. Their slim petals and thin stems are surprisingly resilient, just as we Christians are stronger than people might expect or give us credit for. The meekness, humility, or overall goodness we try to show toward other people aren’t signs of weak character or naivety; they’re signs of us growing in God’s image.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Colossians 3:12 ESV)

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 ESV)

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)

Daisies are beautifully complex. A daisy is known as a composite flower because it’s actually two flowers combined into one. The inner yellow section is called a disc floret; the outer petal section is called a ray floret. We’re also beautiful inside and out, with everything coming together as only God could plan. And while the world might see us one way, God sees us in the ways that truly count: through our hearts and innermost thoughts. He has plans specifically for us and knows we have so much more potential than the world might expect.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:16 ESV)

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)

What do the symbols in daisies mean for us?

The next time you see a daisy, I hope you’ll look at it a little differently. Instead of only seeing a pretty flower, let’s be reminded of how daisies can represent parts of our faith: purity, new beginnings, resilience, rest, and complex beauty. I think I’ll buy a bouquet when I’m at the store this week.

Do any of these symbols particularly resonate with you? What other characteristics of flowers remind you of your faith or your relationship with God? Leave a comment below so we can all learn from and encourage each other.

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