Andra Day’s Faith Journey: Trusting God’s Timing and Coming Full Circle in Her Purpose
Andra Day’s inspiring faith journey has come full circle, from her breakthrough role as Billie Holiday to gracing the cover of EBONY. Guided by divine timing and trust in God’s plan, Day shares how faith, perseverance, and embracing her true self have shaped her success, offering powerful lessons for Black Christian women.
By Kierra Isaacs // Faith & Spirituality // EEW Magazine
Andra wears a Theory coat, Sergio Hudson dress and Jeblanc earrings. Image: Tayo Kuku Jr. for EBONY.
Andra Day carries herself with a grace and confidence that reflects her deep faith and trust in God’s plan for her life.
As a Christian, singer, actress, and now EBONY cover star, Day has always felt guided by divine timing. “I’ve always wanted to be on the cover of EBONY since I was a kid,” she shares. “I always say—because spiritually, that is what matters to me most—I’m reminded of a Scripture that says God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can think, ask, or imagine”—a Bible verse found in Ephesians 3:20.
For Day, faith has been a constant guide throughout her career, leading her to the roles meant for her.
Divine Timing: From Billie Holiday to EBONY Cover Star
Introduced to Billie Holiday’s music at age 12, she later took on the iconic role of the legendary singer in the 2021 film The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Her powerful portrayal earned her widespread acclaim, but for Day, the significance of the journey runs deeper.
Now, as she graces the cover of EBONY, she reflects on the fulfillment of a long-held dream.
A Full-Circle Moment: Embracing God’s Blessings
“Being on the cover now speaks to full-circle moments,” she said, noting that in her portrayal of Billie Holiday, the star is depicted as “beautiful and effervescent, not anything like what the media had painted her to be.”
Currently starring in Lee Daniels' The Deliverance, Day plays a mother named Ebony whose home and children are haunted by evil spirits.
The character’s name holds special significance for Day.
“God is so funny,” she said. “I’m finally on the cover of EBONY after having played a character named Ebony Jackson. If someone had asked me when we were doing Billie Holiday, ‘Would you rather do it now or in the future where you’ll play a character named Ebony in an amazing movie that would be a hit on Netflix?’ I would’ve actually asked to wait because it’s just too perfect, you know? It just is a blessing.”
Faith, Perseverance, and Inspiring Other Black Women
Blessings are flowing Day’s way—a testament to how faith, perseverance, and embracing who God created you to be lead to success.
On her album CASSANDRA (cherith), she delves into themes of self-love, spiritual renewal, and acceptance. “I’m continuing to trust God more, to not just love God but love myself and who I believe God created me to be. I realized the self-loathing that I had—I had a lot of imposter syndrome—it was faithlessness. I believed what the world was telling me about me [instead] of what God says about me, which is that I’m everything that I need.”
Looking to the future, Day hopes to inspire other Black women to embrace their unique beauty, identity, and purpose. “Women have to deal with a barrage of messages from society and peers and different outlets that tell them they’re not good enough. But the truth is to truly believe you are beautiful and good enough and then invest in that… Only you have that particular concoction. So definitely dive into that and express it more because no one will be able to do it better than you. There is only one you, as far as we know. There’s never been another and there will never be another.”
Andra Day’s story is a reminder that when you trust in God, love yourself, and walk in your true identity, you can achieve far beyond what you ever imagined.
