When They Choose Motel 6

Trent and I are taking down the Christmas decorations and turning our attention toward the new year. But before we do, I had an experience during these holidays that I don’t want to forget. We had such special days at the end of 2025. The trips were completed, presents given, loved ones seen, and Jesus was celebrated and worshiped. There was one day when I had everything planned. I was hoping to create a special day.  But as I laid out my plan and made suggestions, people always seemed to have a better idea. 

I’ve changed the details in the sentences that follow, but the experience was real. Where I had planned to go to a nice restaurant, they asked to go to McDonald's instead. I had planned a stay at a hotel with an indoor water park, but they wanted Motel 6. I had gifts planned that would last for years, but they wanted trinkets from the Target $5 section. At first, I acquiesced, but the longer this went on, the more confused and sad I became. I quit asking and deferring. I carried out my original plan, and the mood changed. There was wonder and joy as eyes began to take in what I had in mind for them.

As all of this was happening, the Lord whispered so kindly to my heart, “Andrea, this is what you are like sometimes with me. Why won’t you just trust and follow? My ways are always better.” I immediately saw it and agreed. How much time do I spend worrying and trying to chart my own course instead of listening, surrendering, and following? I thought of Psalm 23 and how God reveals Himself as our Shepherd, our leader, and guide. l am just like sheep, not very clever and desperately in need of a Shepherd.  Our Good Shepherd loves, leads, provides, protects, and cares for his sheep no matter how slow they are to follow.

In Psalm 23, we see that Jesus satisfies us. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. This is not a statement about how I feel. It is a statement of objective truth. This doesn’t mean we will have everything we want. It means Jesus shepherds well. We will not lack anything we need. You may not have what you want- good health, more money, a loved one back. But our Good Shepherd always provides what is best in light of eternity. As a sheep, my view is so limited. I can trust that the Good Shepherd is working all things for my good, even when I don’t see it or understand it.

In verse 3, we see that Jesus restores us. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. I was trying to lead my people on good paths toward good things, but they kept wanting a different path. My heart is just like that! God has good paths set for me, but I see unloving attitudes, jealousy, bitterness, and strife want to lead me down their paths. Left to myself, I will always go the wrong way. Our Good Shepherd daily, hourly, moment by moment patiently keeps leading. 

The tone shifts in verse 4. We move from this picturesque setting to a dark valley. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

Psalm 23 tells us that God knows where we live. He knows in the Now, and Not Yet, life gets dark and difficult. We have all wondered at some point, if God is leading me, why am I here?

Those seasons can be long and confusing, but as his sheep, we are not left to ourselves. In this verse are two promises- God is with us, and we are not stuck in the valley; He is leading us through it. Maybe it’s in the valley, he knows we will hold tighter to him. Maybe in the dark valley, we will see Jesus’s light more clearly.

In verse 5, the Psalmist changes his metaphor. It's almost as if he says, the sheep/shepherd metaphor can’t convey this last point. So he switches to a friend who lavishes hospitality on you. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. God pulls up a chair and sits with us. The God of the universe calls us friends. Whether you are in a season of obvious blessing or a hard one, Jesus has prepared a table for you and invites you to come sit with him.

As his sheep, we need him for everything, and Jesus loves to be our Shepherd. His paths of righteousness are always for our good. You may feel like giving up on yourself, but our Good Shepherd never gives up on or abandons his sheep.