Imagine you were the great apostle, aged and innocent and always helpful but now “quarantined” on a forsaken island because of your religion, a religion seen as subversive to the government. You are alone, without help, feeling every cold wind, hot sun and hunger pang, and it is not your fault.
What would be your attitude? I am afraid mine, after reveling in my righteous dilemma, could find me starting to fuss at God to “Get me outta here!”
What did John do? He was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10). In other words, he set his mind on the things of God, and when Sunday came around, he worshipped Him Who is forever and ever. This enabled John to endure his trial for two years!
You see, if God is your companion through life, then you are never alone, even if there is nobody else around. God helped John and still used him for great good in this circumstance. Will God stay by your side? Oh, yes, all the way to the end! “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV).