By Veronica Barreto Rosa
St. Gianna Program Specialist
I encountered this verse while reading the Second Epistle of St. Peter, and it has stayed with me as I have tried to understand what it truly means to trust in God’s timing: “With the Lord a day can mean a thousand years, and a year can be like a day.” 2 Peter 3:8.
It is a simple idea to express, yet far more difficult to live out in daily life.
Working at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska has brought this lesson into sharper focus. I began in the Refugee Resettlement Program in 2024. After the program came to an end last year, I transitioned to working in the St. Gianna Program, where we serve women fleeing domestic violence. In both roles, I have come to see how challenging the concept of time can be.
For the families we serve, stability often depends on securing employment as quickly as possible. Yet this process is rarely straightforward. Many of the women we assist have been out of the workforce for years, due to abusive relationships. Others face significant barriers, such as limited access to transportation. Most are mothers trying to find a job that aligns with their children’s school schedules.
One resident at St. Gianna’s exemplifies these challenges. As a single mother of two daughters, the youngest only six months old, she struggled for weeks to find stable employment and reliable childcare. Then one morning, I received a message from her: “Things are finally taking shape.”
After many setbacks, she had secured a job and care for her children. It was not a perfect solution—neither the job nor the schedule met every need. But it was good news after a long time.
Later that same day, I saw her in the chapel, praying alongside her daughters. Seeing her in that quiet moment, served as a powerful reminder that, despite our efforts and plans, it is ultimately God who makes things happen.
A similar experience came not long ago when I encountered a former resident, about two months after she had left the program. When it was time for her to leave St. Gianna’s, I wasn’t sure that she was ready. Although she had secured housing, her work hours were uncertain, and childcare remained unresolved. But she had the perfect opportunity for housing, and she chose not to let it go.
When I saw her again, her demeanor had completely changed. She spoke with joy about her new home and improvements with her work schedule. And finally, after months on a waiting list, her son was now attending childcare. She summed it up simply in Spanish: “El tiempo de Dios es perfecto”— which means that God’s timing is always perfect.
These experiences have challenged my own assumptions. I often feel that success requires everything to be in place—a stable job, secure housing, a clear plan—before our residents move on. But perhaps that expectation reflects my own timeline, not God’s.
I’ve also had to learn that there is only so much that we can accomplish within the time we have with them in our program. Beyond that, we are called to trust that God will continue the work we have begun.
To trust, however, is not just to wait around. It is an active, faithful choice— to live with hope. As Padre Pio said, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” Isn’t it hard not to worry? For me it is.
Still, the example of some of the women I encounter each day offers a compelling witness. In the face of hardship, they continue to entrust their lives to God. Their perseverance is a reminder that, though His timing may not align with our expectations, it is never late and never early—it is always right on time.
