Recently I had an experience that I had never had before. I fly every week for my job. This has gone on for about ten years. This means about 100 times a year I sit on an airplane. I was sitting on the plane recently and the plane was waiting for runway clearance. The steward came over the speaker and said we were next in line to depart. In a few minutes, the plane lurched forward, made a half turn and began to rapidly accelerate for takeoff.

About three seconds into this process, suddenly the plane’s brakes skidded to an abrupt halt. The plane then turned off on a side runway and circled back around to the takeoff area. I believe that every passenger was surprised and shocked by what had just happened. Later the steward’s voice came over the speaker and explained, “the tower gave us permission to takeoff but as we began they asked the pilot to stop due to some side runway issues.”

I don’t pretend to know exactly what happened or why, and I am certain we were not given all the details, but here is what I am confident of: when the voice in the tower told the pilot to stop, he dramatically and immediately obeyed. He literally abandoned his takeoff, which was already in process, because he was so adamant about heeding the voice in the tower.

I have learned in life that the voice in the tower must be obeyed. There are many times mid-career, mid-life, mid-decision, or mid-direction that the voice in the tower— the voice of God—tells us to stop and abandon what we are doing. In my life I have heard the voice of God occasionally tell me to abort, redirect, repent, and turn a different direction. I have learned to be so grateful for the voice in the tower. It has blessed me, stopped me, warned me and redirected me on multiple occasions.

I am writing today to tell you to stop and listen to the voice. What direction is it telling you to go? What things should you be doing? What is of most importance in your life? What should you change? What should you repent of? What direction are you traveling that is not leading you where the voice would have you go?