THE EXPERIENCE OF ALONENESS: It is inevitable. At some point, grief or loss knocks on our door. Life happens, tragedies strike, death overtakes us or sometimes worse, those we love most. When the ache of emptiness does invade our lives, even the most faithful Jesus-followers may experience the "felt absence" of God. Even if by faith we can cling to the promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5), the feeling of suffocating aloneness can leave us crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!?" (Psalm 22:1). This can be truly troubling. Where is God when it hurts? Has God really left? If not, why can't I feel God's ...