When I spoke to God, I said I am not comfortable and I am dog tired and do not know what to do. I do not know what I need so I don't know what to ask for. All I know I that I need help. My prayer was please help me.

Now let me say that I am not depressed. I know that intimately and that isn't the problem, however I am very stressed. I know I'm not alone. Many of us are stressed about our families, jobs, homes, health and various responsibilities and tasks that we must contend with daily. I'm feeling that stress. For me whenever these times come I liken it to not having air, not being able to breathe. My tipping point is no air. I am there.

So I asked for help. The help came around 2:15 and I didn't want it because I am so exhausted. I stalled, turned on the tv, read some articles and realizes that I was stalling. I began to pray an opened my Bible and landed on I Corinthians 14, it is familiar.

This scripture talks about prophesy and speaking in tongues. Paul concludes that it is better to prophesy than it is to speak in tongues. The prophesy edifies (builds/benefits) all while the tongue only edifies self. Tongues can cause confusion and God is NOT that (v 33) the chapter ends in verse 40 with "Let all things be done decently and in order." There it was, simple and succinct -- I am out of order.

Concerns about the job, not just the workload but the injustices, power plays and all around foolishness wake me up at night. What is more frightening is that in the place I consider my safe place -- the church, I witness the same things that I do on the job. Once home, there is still no rest. My community is in upheaval and more than once that has landed beyond my front door.  I worry about my family, my parents are older and have been through so much, and I feel inadequate to repay them. My sisters and their families face challenges of their own that I can not help them with. Finally there's just me and the battle for my spirit, mind and body. I am out of order and can no longer ignore it. Are you?

At our tipping point we have some choices. My choice was to seek God for help. Whatever your faith, whatever your spiritual practice it is in that place away from it all that we can all regain our bearings and gain some clarity. I know that I don't have it all resolved but  I do know that going to that spiritual place, engaging the spiritual practice of prayer initiated acknowledgement. I can acknowledge all that concerns me, all that I don't know, and that I can't do nor resolve it all. Acknowledgement is the first step, for me of leaving the chaos behind.

What will it be for you?