I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately—lots and lots of
reading. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been the kind of relaxing reading I enjoy. I’ve
been reading reviews of convertible car seats. Riveting material, don’t you
think? I’ve been on consumer reports, making tedious notes to compare the
ratings, pros, and cons of different models. I’ve been on amazon and
manufacturer websites reading review after review after review. I had finally
decided on a seat that I thought I wanted, which wouldn’t break the bank. Have
you seen the prices on some of those car seats, by the way?!? $300 for a chair
that has undergone the same safety tests as most other car seats on the market!!
Give me a break. But I digress. I had settled on a Graco that was rated well,
had received pretty good consumer reviews, and wasn’t outrageously expensive. I
had even found one that was 20% off. There was just one problem. I had saved up
exactly $84 dollars so far. I had been holding on to money that was sent as a
gift for my son, or money that I had made by selling things we no longer
needed. This car seat that I was looking at cost over $100.
I had been specifically praying that God would provide the
money we needed for my son’s new car seat. More than that, I had been praying
that God would increase my faith, and help me to pray with belief that he would
answer. I wanted to pray with conviction that God would respond. The car seat
request was just something specific that I wanted to use to exercise my faith
and practice trusting God for what we needed. While we had money in savings
that we could have used, I really wanted to be able to make this purchase with
no money out of our regular provisions. I asked some of my friends to pray with
me for this specific need. And then I waited. I acknowledged that I didn’t know
how God would provide the money, but I conceded I didn’t need to know the “how.”
I knew I just need to believe God was able, and allow him to work out the
means. I admitted that perhaps God would provide through the money we already
had saved, after all, he had given us all of that as well. So, I left the door
open and I continued to pursue my purchase.
Crunch time was upon us as the little munchkin had pretty
much met the height limit of his infant car seat. I had delayed making the
purchase as long as I could. I started to feel convicted about wanting a car
seat with the bells and whistles, when I could purchase a perfectly good car
seat that was a fraction of the cost. It didn’t feel like a responsible use of
our money, even if it was a good deal. One of my friends suggested looking into
used car seats; I hesitated, knowing the safety risk when you don’t know what’s
happened to the car seat in the previous owner’s care. In spite of my reservations,
I started looking around just to see what was available. I did a search on a
local internet group for the buying and selling of baby/maternity gear. I found
several listings that had been posted a month or more ago. There was one
listing in particular for the same model of Graco car seat I had been looking
at buying new. She had listed two for sale, but was asking $100 for one or $175
for both. One, that was way more than this used seat was worth to me, and two,
the listing was over a month old and it didn’t seem likely she’d still have
them after this long. Well, as it turns out, she still had both of them for
sale. She admitted she had been having lots of interest on them, but due to
family concerns hadn’t had the time to follow up with them. So, in her house
they still sat. She was willing to come down on the price, and offered to sell
me one at $80. My husband said he’d be willing to give her $125 for both, and
she agreed! I thought that was going to be a great deal to get two car seats
(no lugging one back and forth between vehicles) for that price. They didn’t
expire for a while yet, and seemed to be in really good condition.
We went to look at them, and as soon as we got there this
lady said she had to show us that a piece of the foam padding had broken off of
one of the seats when she was putting the cover back on. She said she didn’t
feel right selling it in that condition, and didn’t want it on her conscience
if anything were to happen to the child riding in it. So, without us even
asking, she offered to sell us one of the seats for $80 and let us have the
other one for free!! We, of course, agreed to this price and snatched those
seats up. I immediately searched online about the broken foam, and found that
you can call the manufacturer for replacement foam. Not to mention, I felt so
much better about the safety of the seats knowing she felt bad enough about
that issue to give it to us for free. I couldn’t imagine there were any
accidents she wasn’t telling us about. God had provided us with the model of
car seat I had been looking for, and had done so for $4 less than the amount I
had saved. I was prepared to pay more money, but right at the last minute God
provided what we needed within the means that we had set aside. I was in awe. I
couldn’t wait to tell the people that had been praying with me that God had
come through even bigger than I expected. But the story continues (I know it’s
getting long, but I’m almost done. I promise)…
The next day I call Graco and they inform me they have the foam
padding available to sell me for $8 plus shipping and handling. It would cost a
total of $12.95. I figure that’s a pretty good price considering all of the
money I had already saved. I go ahead and make the purchase. The lady on the phone
keeps asking me over and over again to confirm my debit card information and
shipping address. She ultimately informs me that the system wasn’t able to
process my card as they occasionally have problems with debit cards, and would therefore
be able to send it to me as a courtesy, for FREE!! I could hardly believe it. I
was in awe of how God was continuing to provide.
I know that some people will read this and be skeptical.
Believe me, I’ve had times in my life that I would have said “that’s just a
coincidence.” I now know better. After praying specifically for this one thing,
and asking God to help me believe again in the power of prayer, I know now that
this is God. He hears us when we seek him. Psalm 91:14-15 says, “’Because he loves me,” says the Lord, ‘I will
rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in
trouble, I will
deliver him and honor him.’” I’ve been reminded again that God is “able to do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20) I am so
thankful that God is patient with me when I’m so slow to learn these lessons,
and continue to have doubts in spite of all he’s already done. What are you
believing God for today? Seek God according to his will, and believe with
assurance that he will answer you.
