I am many things: a daughter, a sister, a mother, a friend. But the question “Who am I?” came to me with sharp clarity one morning while watching the 2024 American Elections unfold.
The commentators spoke with such certainty, placing entire groups of people into neat categories “Black voters did this,” “White women chose that,” “Hispanic communities leaned here.” Each sentence seemed to reduce entire lives, complex experiences, and individual choices into simple labels.
Online, the narrative only intensified. Algorithms pushed opinions to the surface, reinforcing biases, amplifying divisions, and turning people into little more than their most obvious outward traits.
And in that moment, I found myself asking: Who am I, really? And who does God say I am?
The Limitations of Labels
I recall watching an interview where a woman said she couldn’t vote for a certain party because of something a leader had done decades ago. Her identity and her choices seemed anchored to history. Similarly, media commentators reduced entire voting outcomes to demographics: “This group of women decided the result.”
But is that really all there is? Are we nothing more than age, race, gender, or political leaning?
I am Black. I am in my 50s. I live in London, and I work in advertising. But none of these details, though true, capture the full picture of who I am. They are fragments, not the whole.
In that moment of reflection, one unshakable truth stood tall: I am a beloved child of God.
An Identity Rooted in Christ
In Galatians 3:28, Paul writes: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
This verse doesn’t erase our uniqueness it reclaims it. It tells me that while the world may see me as a checklist of labels, God sees me as His daughter, intimately known, endlessly loved, and purposefully created. My identity doesn’t start with my ethnicity, my age, or my profession. It starts and ends with Him.
Abraham’s story reminds me of this. He was called to step away from familiar places, trusted identities, and inherited categories. He walked into the unknown with nothing but faith and God’s promise.
And isn’t that our call too? To find our identity not in the fleeting definitions of society but in the eternal promises of God.
This truth reflects the profound idea of being ontologically first in Christ. The word “ontological” refers to our very being or essence. It’s a reminder that who we truly are begins with Him. As Colossians 3:3 says, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” This means that at our core, our identity is rooted in our relationship with Christ. Every other label, while meaningful, is secondary to this foundational truth.
Walking Beyond the Boxes
So, who am I?
I am not simply Black, middle-aged, or British. These are parts of my story, but they are not the title of my book. I am a follower of Jesus, walking a road shaped by faith, trust, and grace.
I am a child of God, a descendant of Abraham, a woman whose identity stretches far beyond categories crafted by society.
This identity, rooted in Christ, is my anchor. It allows me to move in spaces where others might try to define me, yet remain steadfast in who I truly am.
A Prayer for Identity
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for creating me in Your image and calling me Your child. In a world full of noise, opinions, and labels, help me to hear Your voice above all others.
Remind me daily that my identity is not found in how others define me, but in the unshakable truth that I am Yours. Let me walk with confidence in the purpose You’ve given me, and may my life reflect Your love and grace to those around me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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With Grace & Grit,
