Behold
God is Still With Us
December 14, 2025 | By Ben Foote
What if the real Christmas story wasn’t peaceful at all—but full of fear, shame, and chaos?
This week, we tear down the postcard version of Christmas and step into what really happened to Mary and Joseph. They were rejected, misunderstood, constantly on the move, and raising a child the world wasn’t ready for. Maybe that sounds familiar. If you’re walking through a season of anxiety, rejection, or just wondering where God is in all of it, this story is for you. Because Jesus didn’t just come into perfection. He came into the mess. And He’s still with us today.
Mary and Joseph didn’t make it through those long, lonely years because life was easy. They made it because they believed God was with them. That’s what the name Immanuel means. And it’s not just past tense. It’s present. Whether you’re battling fear, depression, shame, or just trying to make it through the holidays without falling apart, this story reminds us of something powerful. God doesn’t run from the mess. He enters it. He stays. He saves.
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Set List
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee (vocals) and Johnny Marks (writer/composer)
"Angels (Glory To God)" by Jonathan Smith and Phil Wickham
"Hark Hallelujah" by Cassidy Estevez, Charles Wesley, Dameon Aranda, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, James Conner, Michael Biancaniello, and Stephen Cole
"What a Beautiful Name, Joyful Joyful Mashup" by Hillsong Worship and Henry Van Dyke
"Lean Back" by Nate Moore, Tony Brown, Chris McClarney, and Amanda Cook
Discussion Questions
God Still with Us
Ben Foote
Dec 14th, 2025
// Bible References: Matt 1:20,23; 2:1-5, 7-8, 13-16, 19-21; Phil 2:5-8;
// Community Question: What is your favorite Christmas song and why? (Bonus…sing a few lines from it!)
// Discussion Questions
- Ben describes the Christmas story as a five-to-six-year journey filled with insecurity, displacement, and fear, rather than just a single peaceful night. How does this perspective change your understanding of Mary and Joseph's experience?
- Ben suggests that Joseph found strength each day by reminding himself that 'God is with us.' What daily practices help you remember and experience God's presence in your life?
- Ben describes God kneeling at our bedside during our most honest nighttime prayers. How does this image of an intimately present God contrast with other ways people might view God? What prevents you from being completely honest with God in your prayers?
- Going Deeper: Read Philippians 2:5-8. We see Jesus enter the world through humility and weakness, not control and power. Where do you feel tempted to believe God is absent because life feels messy, unfair, or unimpressive? What would it look like to invite Him into that space this week?
// Challenge: Ben mentioned that God whispers to our heart that He is real and He loves us. How does this knowledge affect our relationship with Him? How might this knowledge affect the way we live this week?