The Apostle John had known some hardship. He was there when Jesus was tried. He looked up and saw Him on the cross, even receiving the instruction to take care of Jesus’ mother Mary.

He knew what it was to hide out in fear of the Jewish leaders and the Roman soldiers. He had heard what had happened to the other apostles and many of the disciples. It wasn’t pretty. All the apostles , including his brother James, had died ugly deaths for the crime of believing in Jesus.

Here John sat on the island of Patmos, cast away like so much refuse. Alone.

What did he have to praise God for? He was hurting. Lonely. Frightened to the bone. He had seen the Risen Savior, but now? Now he suffered.

Still he said, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

John saw the ‘mere’ fact that God had created all things reason enough to praise Him. That had not changed with his experiences. The fact was no different as he sat on Patmos than it had been in the Upper Room at a special Passover Seder. The realization of Truth was the same at this moment as that day he stood on a mountaintop and saw Moses and Elijah join Jesus.

Our circumstances don’t determine the worth of God. Our experiences do not define our reasons to praise Him.

God is always God.
He is always good.
He is always the Creator of all things.
Always.

Even when I don’t have the money to pay the electric bill AND buy groceries.

Even when the car breaks down.

Even when my spouse leaves.

Even when my child rebels.

Even when my favored politicians don’t win.

Even when my loved one dies.

Even when my world is falling apart.

He is still God and will always be worthy of all glory, honor, and power.

When I get this right, my responses to my circumstances are more aligned with His will.

May our focus be correct today. May we choose to praise the One who is worthy, no matter how good or how bad our circumstances are.

Coffee, Bible, Journal.