Several years ago, I made the terrible decision to stop going to the dentist. Years passed between visits. After weeks of medicating a toothache with pain relievers, the pain grew to a point I could not bear. I called a friend who had raved about his dentist and asked for help. “Can you introduce me to your friend? I need help!”
My friend got me into his dentist the very next day, only for me to discover that the source of the pain would require a root canal. Though the process was uncomfortable and expensive, I no longer needed to carry pain meds with me - and I considered that win!
This dentist was kind and compassionate. Though he couldn’t save my tooth, he could help me find relief from the pain. His presence in the room with me helped me relax and let go of my anxiety.
I thought about that experience when I first heard Phil Wickham’s new song, “The King is in the Room,” on Air1. In a video on his Facebook page, Wickham described this song as “my new favorite song to lead,” and it’s easy to see why! With the high energy of songs like “This is Amazing Grace” and “This is Our God,” I can only imagine how singing “The King is in the Room” could unite people in a hope-filled posture based upon faith in God’s character.
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While my dentist entering the room brought relief to me, God’s presence brings so much more for us. Our view of our circumstances transforms when we become aware of God’s presence.
Wickham’s chorus describes this hopeful posture.
“There's freedom and life anywhere You reign
Jesus we bow only to You
We're laying down all of our crowns
The King is in the room!”
The chorus turn Scripture into song, inspired by the image of worship in the throne room contained in Revelation 4. There, John recorded what he witnessed in his vision of heaven. “And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
Balanced and healthy worship includes praise of God for His actions and character. It’s easy to focus on what God has done for us, but we must also remember who He is. After all, when God isn’t doing what we expect or want, we need a foundational understanding of his trustworthy character to sustain us as we navigate our fears and doubts.
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Thousands of years before Wickham wrote this song, King David worshiped God in this way within the opening verses of Psalm 46.
“God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”
God’s character shapes how we interact with Him. He is our refuge and strength because He is greater than the earthquakes, stronger than the mountains, and high above the ocean’s chaos. Later in the song, Wickham continues to sing about the freedom and victory that God’s presence brings.
“Fear has to flee, shame has to leave
Before the King, before the King
Chains have to break, dry bones awake.”
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The character of God and His work through Jesus Christ are the source of our freedom and restoration. Just as Galatians 5:1 declares our freedom and Ezekiel 37 describes dry bones finding new life, the presence of God in our lives today can transform us.
Is adversity in the room with you today?
Is anxiety in the room?
Is there a sense of uncertainty in the room?
Don’t forget—the King is in the room, too! God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. So, we can sing Phil Wickham’s “The King is in the Room” with hope and faith because we are not alone, and God is greater than anything we face today. I pray this song encourages you today!
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps people transform difficult circumstances into places where they can thrive. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and loves watching movies with his wife and three kids. You can begin Scott’s life-changing project, The Gratitude Challenge, today.
