Just What I Needed to Hear

Denise Jelinek reflects on the gifts of God's Word and His perfect timing.

I must admit that I don’t read my Bible. In fact, I would not call myself a book reader, in general. However, I do love Scripture.   

What do I love about Scripture?  

• I love dissecting it with the Lord, making notes about what He reveals to me. 
• I also love that it frequently is exactly what I need at the right time. (Isn’t that so like our Lord: putting words or people in our path to reveal Himself and His will for us when we need it most?) 

And Then the Lord Spoke to Me 

It wasn’t until I converted to Catholicism at age 29—from no faith—that I felt the Lord actually speak to me.   

Up to that point, I had no Scripture in my life, aside from the “Our Father” written on my deskmate’s pencil in third grade and my daily Mass-going grandma saying passages like, “Die to self, die to self.”   

In those words, it didn’t seem like He was speaking directly to me—Denise.   

But that changed one day when I was a young mom.   

I felt torn in several directions: marriage, kids, side hustle, and housekeeping ... I didn’t feel like I was fully present; I felt like I was doing it all wrong and not doing “enough” or being “enough” (whatever that means). I was stuck in the hopelessness and confusion that can happen when we feel far from the Lord.  

One night, my husband and I watched a movie called The Song, which I totally recommend. It’s about an up-and-coming musician who finally makes it big, and whose family is torn apart.   

At one point in the film, I heard Ecclesiastes 3:1:   

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.  

I knew it was meant for me because I stopped. I paused. Something in me felt different.   

It took a day or two to settle in, but what I heard the Lord say to me was, “This isn’t the time for everything. In fact, there is not one time meant for everything all at once. However, if I [the Lord] want it for your life, I will provide a time for it in your lifetime.”  

What relief to a “chasing-striving-never-good-enough” young mom and new believer of Jesus! His words gave me so much peace and relief. I felt like I was getting permission to finally not do “all the things.”   

What’s funny is that the week before, my husband had said, “I think you are trying to do too much,” but his words didn’t give me the relief or permission I was really seeking to lay some things down. Instead, it was the Lord’s words that spoke loud and clear to me.  

Click to tweet:
Isn’t that so like our Lord: putting words or people in our path to reveal Himself and His will for us when we need it most? #CatholicMom

The Lord Still Speaks 

Most recently, the Scripture I love living by is: “You will see greater things than this” (John 1:50). To me, that is the Lord saying, ”Oh, sweet daughter, you have no idea how good it’s going to get!”  

My sisters in Christ, I offer you that hopeful verse so you know that no matter what you are facing, He promises “you will see greater things than this.”   

The Lord continues to reveal Himself to me at exactly the right time, just as He is doing in your life. Open your eyes and ask Him to reveal His awesomeness to you today. God bless! 

Copyright 2023 Denise Jelinek
Images: Canva