When the Runway Shuts Down
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
This excerpt comes from a news report by The Canadian Press describing a tragic collision at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. In the aftermath, dozens were injured, emergency crews responded, and one of the busiest airports in the country was brought to a halt. Flights were delayed, runways shut down, and operations slowed significantly. Even after repairs were made and runways reopened, the ripple effects remained—hundreds of cancellations, lingering delays, and an ongoing investigation trying to understand what went wrong.
What stands out is how quickly everything changed. One moment, planes are landing and taking off like clockwork. The next, everything stops. The runway—normally a place of constant motion—becomes a place of stillness, repair, and reflection. It’s a sobering reminder of how fragile and interruptible life really is. We plan, we schedule, we move forward—but in a moment, everything can be disrupted.
Our lives often run like that airport—busy, full, constantly moving. We have our plans, our direction, our expectations. But sometimes, God allows a “runway moment.” Something unexpected interrupts our pace. It may not be a tragedy like this, but it could be sickness, disappointment, conflict, or uncertainty. And suddenly, we are forced to stop.
But notice something important in the report: before operations resumed, the runway had to be repaired, inspected, and confirmed safe. There was no rushing back to normal. Careful attention had to be given to what was damaged. In the same way, when God allows interruptions in our lives, it’s not just to stop us—it’s to work on us. To repair what’s been neglected. To examine what’s been overlooked. To realign us with what truly matters.
Sometimes we just want to “get back to normal” as quickly as possible. But God is more interested in making us right than making us busy. He slows us down so that we might look up. He interrupts our plans so that we might trust His.
Even in tragedy, there is a reminder: life is not in our control—but it is always in God’s hands.
Take 10 minutes today with no phone, no noise—just sit quietly with your Bible and reflect on Psalm 46.
When life suddenly slows or stops, don’t rush past it—ask God what He is trying to repair, reveal, or realign in your life.
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" — Job 19:25
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This Week's Radio Program
Week Eighteen • May 3, 2026
Trusting God With Tomorrow (Pt. 3)
In this final part of the message, “Trusting God with Tomorrow,” we are brought face to face with a powerful truth from Scripture—while we often plan our days and assume the future, the Bible teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain, and completely in God’s hands. As James reminds us, our life is “even a vapour” that appears for a little time and then vanishes away . The issue is not planning, but planning without God—living as though we are in control of what only God knows.
This message walks through the heart of biblical trust: having a proper perspective of tomorrow, a humble posture before God today, and a surrendered plan that says, “If the Lord will.” Whether facing uncertainty, fear, or the illusion of control, we are called to draw near to God, rest in His care, and trust that His will is good, even when tomorrow is unknown. Because Christ has risen, our future is secure—not in our plans, but in His perfect hands.
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