It is so hard to believe that my first four months at Friendship Church have come and gone! In the very best way, I feel like I’ve been here so much longer. The staff and church members have been so gracious and welcoming to me. My soul has found a wonderful sense of rest, even though my schedule and task list have been busy.
2024 marks my 20th year in Environmental, Health and Safety management. I’ve been very blessed to have a rich and varied career and have worked in power plants, ethanol plants, HVAC manufacturing, medical packaging, and a hospital.
My safety career started when my coworker’s life ended in a workplace accident. I had been working as a boiler operator for a power plant when our contract maintenance worker died due to a lockout tagout injury. My life would never be the same. I was so impacted by this event that I decided to go back to school and learn all I could about safety. I made it my mission to ensure no one I worked with would ever lose their life in the workplace.
It is this passion that I bring to my new role. The safety and security of our staff, contractors, visitors and church members is my top concern. I believe that to reach people with the Gospel, we must first provide for their physical needs. Safety and security are a basic human need for all of us, and there are many factors around us that can alter our level of protection. This is why I find so much comfort in Scripture. God cares so much for us, and He wants us to find safety and rest in Him!
The next time you read Psalm 91, look closely at the visual imagery it gives as it talks about shelter and safety. “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty…He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge.”
We must make the Most High our dwelling place each moment. We must rely on Christ for everything we need daily. To rest in God means we must fully trust Him. We quiet our minds while meditating on His Holy Word by choosing to set aside the worries of the day for that moment. We must find our rest in frequent quiet time with God. I enjoy speaking to Jesus through prayer and praise during my commute and by filling the room with praise music while I set up a space at church. He is such a comfort, especially in a career that is unpredictable.
I am a chronic list maker and love the satisfaction of crossing things off when they are complete. I’ll often joke that my “To-Do” list becomes my “Ta Da” list when I’ve had a good day. You know that moment…when you see all the completed items, hold up the list and say, “TA DA!” Sometimes my list becomes way more than I have time or energy to complete. It’s like I set myself up to fail by trying to do it all or trying (and usually failing or falling short) to be all things to all people. In those times, I try to remember that God wants me to rest too. I believe that God is not after my PRODUCTIVITY as much as He longs for my PRESENCE.
God promises that all who come to Him will find rest in Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” No matter how busy I am or how long my to-do list is, I must remember that my Heavenly Father is wanting me to search for Him when I need rest.
My question for you is this…where are you resting right now?
No matter what our circumstances…there is joy, peace, safety, and security in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I pray you find rest and shelter in your time with Jesus today!
Rebekah Ciesluk
Rebekah Ciesluk is Facilities & Safety Director at Friendship Church for both campuses. Rebekah has worked in industry for 20 years. Her career path has also included work as a Safety Manager in several areas of corporate manufacturing including ethanol industry, power plants, and hospital service. Rebekah has a master’s degree in occupational safety management and professes to be a lifelong learner. Rebekah is a home remodeler and has flipped several houses. She also enjoys reading, music, video gaming, and other activities in her spare time. Rebekah has a passion for teaching the Gospel to children and has written several books about animals who love Jesus.