October 2, 2026
Have you seen or do you know what the “black scratch-off coloring pages” are? Just in case you don’t, let me try and explain. They are completely black-coated pieces of paper that kids can take a coin or a wooden stick and scratch out a picture. Underneath the black is a specific colorful picture or just colors. On some, you have to scratch the entire black off to see the specific picture, but on others you can scratch off your own design to have a colorful picture of whatever you choose: a butterfly, rainbow, etc.
My grandkids have had these pictures and they always love doing them. I was thinking about these pictures the other day as I was driving. I know, I have random thoughts. It made me think about when we are in a dark not so great place in our life, which we can all identify with.
God really reminded me of some important truths from these pictures and I wanted to share them with you. I think we have all been in those not-so-great places in our lives, maybe you are in one right now. Here is what I feel like God is teaching me, and maybe this can help you as well.
First off, when you look at that black-coated piece of paper it does not look the least bit appealing or entertaining. It just looks like a black, empty square. Honestly, if you had choices of different colored papers to choose from you would probably not have the “black” one as your first choice. In fact, if I saw a black piece of paper lying on my kitchen table I would probably just throw it away. Never mind that I usually throw anything away that is on my kitchen table.
My point is that none of us would willingly choose to be in a dark (black) not-so-great place in our life. I know I would not. It does not look the least bit appealing, it is definitely no fun, and frankly black is not my color. However, we all have those times in our life. I so wish I could just pick it up and throw it away but I can’t. I do have some choices just like the kids do when they have one of those scratch-off coloring pages.
Again, I don’t know if you have ever seen one but when the kids start scratching the black off it makes a huge mess. It is like dried paint and it flakes everywhere, and if you are a kid you just scratch away, brush it off (on the floor no less), make a mess, and continue this process. It’s extremely grimy.
Wouldn’t you agree that the not-so-good times in our lives are extremely messy and grimy as well? We don’t like them. We want to get out of them. So we try and “scratch” our way out. We feel like we make a little progress, pick up the pieces, brush off and just have to keep going. Sometimes we feel like our hurts are scattered like little messy crumbs all around the darkness. At times, we can get out of the darkness quickly and other times it might seem like it takes forever.
To me, the lesson is you just have to keep going no matter how messy it gets. You keep going knowing that you can see a glimmer of the picture with each piece you scrape away. The kids keep scratching off the black knowing there is a picture underneath.
You keep going knowing that underneath that messy situation, there is a promise. A promise of a beautiful picture of a Savior who will never leave or forsake you. It’s not always easy to scratch all that black off but it is always worth it.
Sometimes you know just what that picture will be, and sometimes that picture is a complete surprise and not what you expected at all. Sometimes the picture appears quickly and other times it takes you weeks to get all the black off. Psalm 27:13-14 says, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.” Psalms 31:15 says, “My future is in your hands. You will rescue me.”
At times the picture takes longer to appear than I would like, but my timing is not the same as God’s timing. God doesn’t want us to keep that black piece of paper. He wants us to keep scratching away the black, grimy mess until we see the light. I can’t help but think about God coming to my rescue, changing my mourning into joy, and giving me peace in the storm. The black picture doesn’t stay black with God. God’s never early, never late, but always on time. While we are waiting on that darkness to lift and the picture to be revealed, it should grow our faith and trust in Him. Darkness may last for a night but joy comes in the morning. The joy of a new chance, a fresh start, new mercies on a new day, a new picture and a new perspective.
I have especially thought about these truths in light of Easter weekend. I’m sure the darkness and black were covering the hearts and minds of those who saw the stone in front of the tomb, especially knowing that Jesus was inside that tomb. However, on that resurrection morning when the stone was rolled away a beautiful picture was revealed for all of us. A picture of love, hope, joy, and redemption.
Let’s remember that we all have rough, hard, dark times, but God never leaves us. He is always there patiently waiting for us and in His timing He will reveal the picture that we need to see. And just for the record, I’m not a fan of the color black or the dried black grimy flakes! I promise to help brush them off of you if you promise to do the same for me.
Enjoy this beautiful picturesque day that God has given us and especially this weekend, remembering that we serve a risen Savior! Share a little bit of that story and joy with others. It might be all they need to help “scratch off” some of their darkness and reveal the beautiful picture of Christ.
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Jill Johnson, a staff member at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother and Georgian. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
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