When you walk into a room, so does He.
Written by Sophie - Chroma Church Kids Leader | 4th July 2026
It was nearing lunchtime on a cold March day when I was sat in this meeting. Chairs spread out in a wide circle, as we were sat discussing how to recruit for our teams while we began to build everything back post-pandemic. I had just started a new job as the kids’ pastor at my church and as I was sat in the meeting, I felt that familiar sinking feeling that came with the question, “do I really belong here”. It was familiar because I had often found myself asking this question, doubting my ability, or holding myself back in a room for fear of bringing something that wasn’t really of worth. Even while others celebrated the successes through my life, it may as well have fallen on deaf ears, as that question still rang louder in my head like something I couldn’t shake. Stepping more into leadership over the years, this battle going on within became increasingly painful and at times felt almost crippling. It was in this season that I knew things needed to change and as I cried out to God, it was in that first year of my new job that God began a deep work in me, a necessary work which has led me to a place where that lingering question has faded far into the background, a voice that I no longer entertain because God’s voice rings so much louder.
In Joshua 1, God has called Joshua to be the leader of the Israelites in this season. A leader that was about to lead the Israelites into the promised land, and with that came the challenge of defeating the nations currently residing in the promised land. This is a big call, and with this call comes a command: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Joshua 1:9), but with this command also comes a promise: “for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua can step into this season with courage and boldness because he is not alone, because he has God with him – the one through whom all things are possible. It was just a few pages back in the Bible where Joshua and Caleb are among the spies who snuck in to scope out the land (Numbers 13-14) and, while the majority of the spies come back in a panic at the size of the people in the land they will need to defeat, Joshua and Caleb came back with a very different perspective. They knew God was bigger than what they were about to face. I often ask the children at church “have you got your problem goggles on, or your God goggles on?”, looking to God can change our entire perspective. Like the 10 spies, we can busy ourselves looking at the challenge at hand, or we could take a step back and look at God. A God who is far bigger than any challenge we tackle, a God who promises to always be with us.
Over the last few years, it’s almost as if God has taught me to put my “God goggles” as I look back over my life. He has revealed the powerful ways that He had been moving through the years, and this has changed my whole perspective.
My journey with Jesus began in my early childhood with a powerful encounter with the Lord – the first time I had really sensed the tangible peace of the Lord. I remember this moment as clear as day. I would have been 4 or 5 years of age and small enough to climb up onto the windowsill to cosy up right in the corner against the wall as I gazed out at the night sky admiring the stars. It was as I was staring up at the stars that I was hit by the awe of God. I remember being so awestruck by God’s creation that, in my simple little 5-year-old way, I began to worship and sing to the Lord. It was in this moment that I felt the presence of God fall in the room as He surrounded me with His peace. Little 5-year-old me didn’t fully understand what was happening at the time but I do remember knowing it was God and thinking to myself “this is the best feeling ever, I never want this to end”.
That moment with Jesus marked me for life. From that moment on I knew that God was real, and that He was with me, and that first encounter with God lit a fire in me to keep running after His presence. But it also particularly marked me with His peace. In a childhood that could be described as somewhat chaotic with a very busy household, many moves, and some tricky family dynamics, it was my mum that noticed the difference and spoke about the calm that was present when I was around. And every workplace I have been at, some comment has been made somewhere along the lines relating to the peace I brought. At one workplace, I was asked to stay on during the lockdown period when most staff were going into furlough because, in their words, “you bring the peace we need at this time”. At another of my workplaces the team used to joke that they wanted to try and push my buttons because I was always so “Zen”. I would gently remind them that it was the peace of the Lord and not Zen! But it was yet another time where the peace of the Lord was evident in my life.
God has taken me on a journey and taught me to put on my “God goggles” as I look back over my life. Doing this I can see the times where I have walked into a room and shifted the atmosphere. Not because of what I have done, but because I carry in His presence. When I walk into a room, so does He. This shift in my perspective has given me courage and boldness as I walk into a room, or start a new job, or step into a new environment, or face a new challenge, because I can look back and see the way God has moved before, and know He will again. Just as He promised Joshua that He would always be with him, I know that He is always with me too and this is where my confidence rests.
Let’s Do This
Take a moment each day and ask the Holy Spirit where He wants you to put on your “God goggles.” Ask Him where He wants you to carry His peace and in which areas or places of your life He is calling you to bring it. Let’s step out together in boldness, remembering that we carry God’s love and presence wherever we go, and let’s watch our amazing Father move.