I was trying to help my five year old work through a tantrum. I said what I thought I was supposed to say, "tell me how you're feeling". He looked at me dead in the eye and responded, "I think you know how I'm feeling".
He's right. I knew he was upset, mad, frustrated. But I wanted to hear him say it to me.
It's a little like prayer. Of course, our all-knowing God already knows how I'm feeling but God still wants to hear it. Somehow the act of finding our way to prayer does such good. Identifying the words, and mustering up the courage to express those words draws us into relationship and builds a deep-rooted bond.
After all, God is the definition of empathy. One who cares for us. Cares to know. Cares to be troubled with our troubles. One who patiently allows us to work through our thoughts and feelings with gratuitous tender tolerance. One who doesn't listen out of duty or obligation, but because it is what God made us for - to return with all our stories.
Tell all the stories. Tell all the feelings. Express it fully and freely. God is settled into a sitting chair with a warm drink eager to hear.
Jeremiah 29:12 "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."