Suzanne Sheppard
For most of her life, Madienne Mahon-Henry never imagined she would become an author.
A communications professional, sales executive and lifelong student of leadership, Mahon-Henry has worn many hats over the years. Yet the title she is preparing to embrace most fully is “author,” with the upcoming launch of her devotional book Spiritual Hide and Seek, a work rooted in the enduring power of Psalm 91 and the idea that faith must be lived, not merely recited.
For Mahon-Henry, the inspiration for the book reaches back to childhood and the quiet but persistent spiritual influence of her grandmother.
“I was born into the hands of my grandmother, who prayed constantly, morning, noon and night,” she recalls. “Catholic to her core, she prayed for me, with me and over me all of my life.”
When her grandmother migrated, their connection continued through letters—letters that frequently included verses from Psalm 91. Those words of protection and assurance would linger with Mahon-Henry long after childhood.
Years later, when the apostle of her church challenged her to write a devotional, the scripture returned instantly.
“This Psalm came through divine inspiration,” she says. “The first six chapters flowed effortlessly off the tip of my pen.”
At the centre of Spiritual Hide and Seek is the belief that faith must move beyond ritual into practical daily living.
For Mahon-Henry, a relationship with God is not simply a matter of repeating familiar scriptures but understanding the freedom and responsibility that comes with spiritual conviction.
“Salvation is like acquiring a visa to dwell in a land where favour is the norm and grace, peace and protection are watchwords of that kingdom,” she says.
But she is quick to add that choosing such a life does not mean escaping hardship.
In fact, she argues that pursuing righteousness can often attract resistance—both in the physical world and in the spiritual realm.
“Just as in the natural, personal growth can attract jealousy, righteousness becomes a target for evil,” she explains. “Psalm 91 helps us walk in that understanding.”
Mahon-Henry’s conviction about divine protection is shaped not only by scripture but also by personal experience.
While writing the book, two moments from her life resurfaced with particular clarity.
One occurred during the attempted coup in Trinidad and Tobago in 1990. At the time, she worked with a government minister and had been scheduled to be at the Red House on the day the attack unfolded.
“I was led not to attend,” she says quietly.
Another incident involved what she describes as a clear and audible instruction she heard while alone in her car—guidance she obeyed, narrowly avoiding what she believes would have been a fatal collision.
“No one can convince me that divine protection is not real,” she says. “I hope this book convinces many.”
The book also speaks to the tension many believers experience between trusting God and confronting the anxieties of modern life.
With global conflicts, economic pressures and social unrest dominating headlines, Mahon-Henry believes people are increasingly vulnerable to fear and despair.
“Our hearts can fail us as we see more deprivation, pain and malice in the world,” she says. “Now more than ever is our opportunity to trust God.”
Yet trust, she says, requires intentional discipline.
Mindset, language and daily habits all shape how people respond to challenges. The devotional, therefore, encourages readers to take responsibility for their thought life and their words.
“How we think and what we say determines our outcomes,” she explains. “We have been given the power to speak and attract what we think and say.”
Among the practices she recommends are meditation on scripture, deliberate preparation for each day and aligning one’s thoughts with faith rather than fear.
Interestingly, Mahon-Henry says the writing process changed her as much as the message she hopes to share with readers.
At first, she doubted she was the right person for the task.
“I protested a bit when asked to write it,” she admits. “I suggested persons who were ‘holier’ than I as a more suitable alternative.”
But obedience ultimately outweighed hesitation.
“God rarely calls the qualified,” she says. “He qualifies the called.”
As the manuscript developed, she found herself applying its principles to her own life.
“The book began to shape the way I responded to day-to-day circumstances,” she says. “It keeps me in check when I’m tempted to react as my flesh dictates. Instead, I’m reminded to respond as my spirit leads.”
Mahon-Henry is also mindful of critics who interpret Psalm 91 as a promise of immunity from suffering.
Her response is simple: Scripture itself acknowledges hardship.
“Psalm 91 is powerful because Psalm 23 exists,” she says, referencing the well-known line, “Yea though I walk through the valley of death.”
“No one is immune from hardship,” she adds. “Great leaders must endure hardship to lead others effectively out of theirs.”
Instead, she believes the psalm speaks to endurance, hope and the possibility of renewal after difficulty.
“It’s for those who have been through the fire—who have experienced loss, trauma or failure—but still hold on to the possibility of a better tomorrow.”
A life of many chapters
Outside of writing, Mahon-Henry’s life has been marked by a wide range of professional and personal experiences.
A mother, wife and self-described loyal friend, she has worked as a communications adviser, television narrator, moderator, event host and entrepreneur. For the past three decades, she has served as a career salesperson with Guardian Life of the Caribbean, a role she describes as both challenging and deeply rewarding.
Her clients, she says, have become “extended family.”
Beyond her professional work, she is musically trained in piano and once played double tenor steelpan for her alma mater, St Francois Girls’ College, as well as with major steelbands during Panorama.
Mahon-Henry also holds a BA and a Master’s degree in Strategic Leadership and Innovation from the University of the West Indies and describes herself as a lifelong learner.
Though Spiritual Hide and Seek will soon be launched, Mahon-Henry reveals it is not the only book she has been working on.
Two other manuscripts—Dive Daughter and Dignity in Debt—have long sat on her desk in various stages of completion.
Still, this devotional holds special significance.
“Adding ‘author’ to my list of accomplishments is something I embrace wholeheartedly,” she says.
The book is intended for anyone seeking a closer relationship with God, whether new to faith or seasoned in it. An audio version, narrated in her own voice, is also planned.
Ultimately, Mahon-Henry hopes readers carry one central truth with them after turning the final page.
“I want people to understand the tremendous impact focusing on God can have in releasing creative power in their lives,” she says.
“It is the power to do and be all that you were created to be.”
