{"id":3297,"date":"2023-11-22T15:57:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T15:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/?p=3297"},"modified":"2026-04-25T16:08:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T16:08:53","slug":"to-be-continued","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/?p=3297","title":{"rendered":"To Be Continued……"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a kid, I remember the excitement of going to an arcade to play games on special occasions such as birthdays or vacations.\u00a0 The thrill of the game was captivating while it lasted, usually only for a few minutes.\u00a0 But, sadly,\u00a0 the fun always ended when <\/span>Game Over<\/span> appeared on the screen accompanied by a disappointing <\/span>wah, wah, wah<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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That\u2019s exactly what was plastered across life\u2019s screen for a long time after Dalton went to Heaven.\u00a0 <\/span>Game over<\/span>.\u00a0 Life felt like it could never be meaningful again.\u00a0 The world zoomed past me while I lay bleeding from an artery on the side of the road.\u00a0 Work, school, errands, cleaning, shopping, holidays, social gatherings.\u00a0 Nothing stopped.\u00a0 Yet, life as I knew it vanished into thin air.\u00a0 I imagine many of you have likely experienced this exact same phenomenon.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Recently, as I read Davey Blackburn\u2019s <\/span>Pain to Purpose<\/span> devotional, I came across an interesting concept that put a unique twist on a symbol commonly used amongst suicide survivors. Blackburn explained that the Enemy\u2019s top priority during the raging storms in our lives is to destroy us, convincing us that life is <\/span>game over.<\/span>\u00a0 Done.\u00a0 Finished.\u00a0 Not worth living.\u00a0 This is exactly what he accomplished in Dalton\u2019s mind on the worst day of my life transferring the same hopelessness to me, as well.<\/span><\/div>\n
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With a smile, the evil one triumphantly places a giant <\/span>period<\/span> at the end of our tragedies and trials.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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As I read on, the ensuing <\/span>aha<\/span> moment\u00a0 brought me much Hope.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Back in 2013, the semicolon became a universal symbol of hope for individuals who struggle with suicidal thoughts.\u00a0 It serves as a reminder that the person\u2019s story and life aren\u2019t over.\u00a0 This is where I made the connection.\u00a0 The period that Satan proudly positions at the end of a tragedy is effortlessly transformed into a semicolon when God deposits a comma directly below the period, exclaiming there is more story to tell.\u00a0 Now the semicolon is more powerful and inclusive than ever before.\u00a0 It has a new identity that applies to all of God\u2019s children in their suffering, not just those who face mental health challenges. Instead, it signifies God\u2019s victory in our pain and sorrow.\u00a0 He gets the last word!<\/span><\/p>\n

How is this possible? It\u2019s only because of the grace and love that was poured out by our Heavenly Father when He sent Jesus as a sacrifice on the cross for our sins.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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On May 14, 2020, the Enemy put a period at the end of the sentence in both Dalton\u2019s life and mine. Thankfully, everything changed because of what happened next.\u00a0 God said to both of us, <\/span>No way. You\u2019re mine<\/span>, as He drew a comma under Satan\u2019s period forming a beautiful, hope-filled semicolon instead. A semicolon that signifies a continuation in life just like an author who chooses to proceed with his sentence rather than bringing it to a close.<\/span><\/p>\n

God always chooses to continue our story if we\u2019re part of His Kingdom. The setting may change, but the story will go on forever.<\/span><\/p>\n

God wasn\u2019t <\/span>done<\/span> with Dalton.\u00a0 He will never <\/span>be done<\/span> with any of His followers.\u00a0 My son will live with His Savior for eternity.\u00a0 And He isn\u2019t <\/span>done<\/span> with me in my earthly body either.\u00a0 My story is<\/span> to be continued<\/span> if I am willing to partner with God and let Him transform my pain into something purposeful. <\/span>If I curl up and let anger, hatred, and bitterness rule my heart, the Enemy wins.<\/span>\u00a0 And if I quit seeking purpose on earth, then Dalton\u2019s life and story get wasted causing me to suffer two tragedies rather than one.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your tragedy is fresh and you don\u2019t even know which way is up, take heart.\u00a0 It\u2019s necessary to give yourself the space and grace to acknowledge the weight of your circumstances.\u00a0 You\u2019re in the emotional ICU.\u00a0 Don\u2019t expect to jump back to <\/span>living life<\/span> with purpose from your hospital bed.\u00a0 Healing doesn\u2019t happen in <\/span>poof<\/span>.\u00a0 It happens through a <\/span>process<\/span> (also borrowed from Davey Blackburn).\u00a0 Many ingredients go into our healing: staying connected to God, clinging to the Promises of His Word, processing of emotions, love and support from family and friends, feeling understood, tears, lots of lament prayers, and time.\u00a0 Remember, a process happens <\/span>over time<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re a little further along and feel weary, you\u2019re not alone.\u00a0 That\u2019s right where I am on many days, as well. Fatigue and exhaustion are natural consequences of grieving day in and day out for months on end while still trying to live a full, productive life.\u00a0 This weariness also begs me to regularly envision the semicolon as I plead with God for help.\u00a0 <\/span>Father, my story isn\u2019t over on earth.\u00a0 You\u2019ve made that clear.\u00a0 But I\u2019m so depleted.\u00a0 I need your sustaining grace.\u00a0 Let me see glimpses of meaning in life again so I have reason to keep pushing forward.\u00a0 Remind me to focus on just today.\u00a0 Strengthen me so I can make it through the many tasks I have to accomplish.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Give yourself permission to feel the magnitude of the tragedy, loss, or hardship.\u00a0 Remember it\u2019s a process that varies in length for every person. But, at the same time, hold on to Hope that God is still interested in using you, your story, and all of your pain for something meaningful.\u00a0 His timing will be perfect for each step of the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

I need this visual as much as any of the rest of you.\u00a0 On days when the missingness crushes my heart.\u00a0 On days when the images of the trauma I faced sneak out of the box I\u00a0 <\/span>filed<\/span> them in so I can function on a daily basis.\u00a0 On days when I see in-tact families enjoying dinner together at a restaurant. On holidays when I have to count how many\u00a0 settings I will need at the table, minus one very important plate.\u00a0 They all rip at my heart.\u00a0 And when they do, I purposefully drag the semicolon front and center into view.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I need it.\u00a0 Over and over and over.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It points me to the One who already gained victory.\u00a0 To the One who has already written the end of the story.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Because of Jesus\u2019 death on the cross, <\/span>game over <\/span>is impossible.\u00a0 Instead, <\/span>To Be Continued<\/span> scrolls across the screen, reminding us that this world is not the end. And when I get to Heaven, I want God to be pleased with how I used my time, talents, and treasures to grow His Kingdom.\u00a0 Not be disappointed that I folded up shop in my grief and wasted the rest of my days on earth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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God is trustworthy, faithful, and loving.\u00a0 He longs for us to trust that what\u2019s above our\u00a0 heads is still under His feet.\u00a0 Give the One who created the universe, the most qualified being known to mankind, the final word in your story as you picture Him smiling while he joyfully draws a comma under that detestable end mark.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re not a follower of Christ, it\u2019s never too late to experience the semicolon that God\u2019s hand draws with perfect intention. You can read more about how to do this in my blog post titled <\/span>Rescued From His Worst Decision By His Best Decision<\/span>.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a kid, I remember the excitement of going to an arcade to play games on special occasions such as birthdays or vacations.\u00a0 The thrill of the game was captivating while it lasted, usually only for a few minutes.\u00a0 But, sadly,\u00a0 the fun always ended when Game Over appeared on the screen accompanied by a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,18,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christian","category-faith","category-suffering"],"blocksy_meta":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/to-be-continued-blog.webp","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/to-be-continued-blog.webp","author_info":{"display_name":"survivingmypas","author_link":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/?author=1"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3297"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3297\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivingmypastbecauseofmyfuture.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}