Peace during the Storms

By Isaac Mackay

I love Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao! My name is Isaac Mackay, there are eight members in my family, and we live in United States. I have a passion for snowboarding, camping, and the mountains. I have never been to the beaches or snorkeled with fish. So, how did I come to love Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao?

I arrived at Aruba as a missionary in May of 2021 when people were still affected by the worldwide pandemic along with the usual challenges of life. Missionaries are blessed with an ability to connect, serve, and comfort people when storms of pain, fear, frustration, sadness, loneliness, and other heart-wrenching emotions trouble their lives. Fortunately, missionaries are also able to see the hope in Jesus Christ rise like the warm Caribbean sun, in the lives of those who seek Him.

Jesus Christ is the only lasting source of hope and peace. The book of Mark in the Bible has a group of followers like you and me, doing their best to have sufficient hope through the storms of life and yet found themselves asking, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38). Just as they did, we may wonder from time to time, is God in control and if so, why is it so hard?

Now, if we pay attention and put on God’s perspective, we will always hear what His disciples heard in the middle of a tempest sea, “Peace, be still” (see Mark 4:39). Calmness fills our hearts and storms cease.

On my mission, there was someone who grew up hearing about God but didn’t feel he needed to have a relationship with his Father in Heaven. He spent most of his life in rough spiritual waters, not giving much thought or attention to God. As life went on, the winds began to blow, and the sea began to beat upon his little boat of faith. After nearly 30 years of missionary visits and endless prayers from family and friends, my dear friend knelt in earnest prayer and in essence asked, “Master, carest thou not that [I] perish?” or “Father, are you there?” And a sweet, familiar Spirit confirmed a truth that my friend once knew. A short time later he was baptized, and now he is a faithful member of the Church in Bonaire.

I love the ABC Islands because they have shown me that Jesus Christ has the power to bring peace to our lives despite difficult situations, deep pain, and all of life’s storms. I have faced and will face storms in my own life, but because of my experiences on my mission, I know our Savior, Jesus Christ, gives us “great inspiration not to be afraid.”¹

I know Christ lives, I know He saves, I know He heals, I know He redeems, and I know He loves us all.