Is this too good to be true?

For about a month now, Brad and I have been on the hunt for a new (used) SUV.  Our last 2 SUV's over the last 5 years have failed us, both of which were the same kind.  You think we would've learned about the issues with the first one, but we were hoping it was a fluke. We really needed to replace it soon because as soon as we fixed one issue, another one popped up.

We narrowed down the type and size we really want along with some unnegotiable "extras" that we feel would work best for our family.  We found a few that we really liked in the pictures, but once we looked at them, the excitement wasn't there anymore.  Whether it was cosmetic issues that we didn't want to compromise with or dealing with an unpleasant sales experience, they just weren't what we expected.  We just kept passing on cars, until one finally caught our eye, had everything we wanted, and was in our price range.  It was only on the lot for 3 days, so we made the 1.5 hour drive after work to look at it with only 30 min until they closed.  After test driving, we discovered it was everything we were looking for.  But, we were prepared to have to negotiate.  So, after 5 min of talking to our salesperson, she came to us with a price we didn't have to negotiate!  It was exactly what we wanted without even asking!

Part of me was thankful everything worked out, but the other part of me was feeling it was too good to be true?  Were they just trying to get rid of that car because something was wrong with it?  Did they just want to make the sale at the end of the night so they could go home?  Or was this perfect car and perfect price "supposed" to be for us?  

I was thinking to myself today....Why do we feel like we need to question whether or not a blessing was supposed to be for us?  Why do we allow our past circumstances to make us feel so undeserving?  People have burned us and caused us to be skeptical of good things...whether it's a car salesperson, a politician, church leadership, a friend or family member...it's hard to trust when we've lost trust in so many.

Brad and I, like many others, were down to one income for much of 2020.  I look back and can recall financial blessings and favor that came upon us during that time.  Money got tighter for us and we had to change some habits.  Christmas was a bit smaller, we had to pay less on school loans, and defer some other payments, but everything worked out okay.  We both have jobs again and are gaining our financial stability back. But during this time, I was thankful that we were ok and while money was tight, we weren't hurting.

Everyone has a story like this.  Maybe it's not about a car, but maybe it's about a job, finances, relationships, tough decisions, or you just really need some rain for the garden you're growing.  We all deserve the right for blessings and good things to come our way.  There has been a lot of heartache in my life, and going through it made it feel like it would never end.  But, as I look back and think about how I was able to move forward, how even though my life was altered and tough times happened, I am thankful for the provision and grace that was allowed for me to get through those difficulties.  We are able we were blessed when we're able to look back at our life and realize we have made it this far.  Maybe we haven't received everything we've wanted, and maybe there are still some things we need...but, our blessing, our "good thing" is coming.  Sometimes it doesn't look like what we asked for, sometimes we don't realize what we received until later, and sometimes, we don't know what we were kept from getting, and that in itself is the blessing.  

It's hard sometimes to just say "Thank you" when we receive a gift or something good, because either we feel like we don't deserve it OR it's not what we were expecting...but if we go through each day thankful and grateful and expecting great things, I believe we still start to see the good things that will come our way!