Today we’d like to introduce you to JAKE TAYLOR.
Hi JAKE, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t grow up with a roadmap for life. A lot of my journey came from navigating trauma, broken cycles, and seasons where I felt completely alone. But those same hardships became the ground God used to raise me. Long before I understood it, He was preparing me through every setback, every closed door, and every moment where faith was my only option.
When I was twelve years old, I cried out to God asking, “Why is this happening to me?” In that moment, I heard Him speak to my heart: “One day, you’re going to have a story to tell.” I didn’t understand it then, but that word has shaped my entire life.
Photography became my first creative outlet, it was where I found freedom and expression. Music followed right after; I started writing songs to process what I felt and to turn pain into purpose. Both became ways God used my creativity to reach people long before I ever stepped into authorship.
Years later, during a powerful season of spiritual encounters and visions, God came to me again, this time with clear direction. He told me I needed to write a book, that it was going to help many people. Raised by God wasn’t just an idea or a dream; it was a divine assignment. God gave me the words, the message, and even the timing. I didn’t write it for attention. I wrote it out of obedience.
After the book was released, people began reaching out. Some shared how specific chapters spoke right into their situation; others hadn’t even read it yet but felt led to open up about what they were going through. That’s when I realized the book itself is just a vessel, what really matters is the healing and connection it brings.
Today, I’m focused on walking out my calling, using my story, my photography, my music, and my faith to help others see that God can raise them too. I’m still building, still growing, but the message stays the same:
Everything I survived is now being used to serve others, because God wrote this story long before I ever picked up a pen.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road. Every season of growth has come with some kind of breaking. There were times I lost everything, relationships, stability, even a sense of who I was. I’ve faced betrayal, rejection, and moments where I had no idea how I was going to make it through the week. But looking back, those were the seasons that taught me endurance, faith, and total dependence on God.
One of the hardest parts wasn’t just the external battles, it was the internal ones. Healing from trauma, learning to forgive, and breaking generational patterns didn’t happen overnight. I had to confront parts of myself that I didn’t want to see. There were days when I questioned whether I was truly called for this or if I was just fooling myself. But every time I tried to walk away, God would send confirmation after confirmation that I was right where I was supposed to be.
Even during the writing of Raised by God, there were intense spiritual attacks and distractions that tried to pull me off course. It felt like the moment I said “yes” to God’s assignment, the opposition increased. But that also showed me how important the mission really was. When the enemy fights you that hard, it’s usually because something powerful is coming.
Financially, it wasn’t easy either. There were seasons I had to sacrifice everything to keep creating, to keep moving toward what God showed me. I’ve had to build things from the ground up, alone, trusting that God would provide. And He always did.
So, no it hasn’t been smooth. But it’s been purposeful. Every hardship was training. Every setback was redirection. Every “no” became proof that God had a better “yes” waiting. Those struggles became the very evidence that Raised by God wasn’t just a title, it was my reality.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Everything I do centers around purpose and storytelling. Whether it’s through my photography, my music, or my writing, my goal is always the same, to help people see what God is doing in their lives, even when it’s hard to understand.
As a photographer, I specialize in capturing emotion and authenticity. I’ve built a reputation for creating images that tell a story, whether it’s a wedding, a senior shoot, or real estate work, I treat every project with intention. People often tell me my photos feel “alive,” and that’s because I don’t just shoot moments, I capture meaning.
Music became my second outlet. I write and record songs that speak to real emotions, love, loss, faith, and the battles we fight silently. It’s another way for me to connect with people who might not pick up a book but will listen to a song and feel understood.
Then came my book, Raised by God, which I consider the core of everything I do. It’s not just a book, it’s a movement of healing, reflection, and faith. I’m most proud of the impact it’s having on people’s lives. Every message I receive, every testimony from someone who says, “That chapter was exactly what I needed,” reminds me that I’m walking in purpose.
What sets me apart is that everything I create comes from lived experience and divine direction. I don’t create for attention, I create out of obedience. My photography, my songs, and my writing all carry the same heartbeat: transformation.
I’m proud that my work doesn’t just look good or sound good, it means something. It helps people heal, see themselves differently, and realize that no matter where they are, God’s still writing their story too.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is seeing people healed, restored, and walking in the purpose God created them for. Nothing compares to watching someone realize that the pain they went through wasn’t wasted, that God can take what tried to destroy them and use it for good. That’s the kind of joy that hits different because I’ve lived it myself.
I find happiness in moments of peace, quiet drives, worship, nature, deep conversations, capturing life through my camera, or writing songs that carry emotion. It’s those moments where I feel closest to God and most aligned with who I am.
I’m also happiest when I can give back, whether that’s encouraging someone who feels stuck, praying with a stranger, or sharing a story that reminds someone they’re not alone. Knowing that something I created, a photo, a song, a chapter, helped someone heal or see God differently brings me the kind of happiness that success alone could never give.
True happiness for me isn’t about things or titles. It’s about impact. It’s knowing I’m living in purpose, staying obedient to what God called me to do, and using every gift He gave me to serve others. That’s where I find joy, in walking out the story He wrote for me.
Contact Info:
- Other: https://a.co/d/bVAoyam
