How Missing My Flight Changed Everything

This was me in 2015, and the story behind this moment is one I will always share. It is surprising, humbling, and full of lessons.

I had travelled from Toronto to Atlanta for an important appointment. My flight was set for 8:30 a.m., and I take being on time very seriously. Being late is just not who I am. As usual, I left home early to reach Toronto Pearson Airport by 6:30 a.m. I thought all immigration and customs would take no more than an hour. But that day proved me wrong.

It felt like everyone in the city had decided to travel to the United States at the same time. I was shocked by the huge crowd and the long queue. By 8:00 a.m., I was still moving slowly in line, surrounded by so many people. I felt anxious but held onto hope that I might still make it.

Then suddenly, I heard my name over the loudspeaker: “Mr Ayodele Akerele, we are about to close the boarding gate. Please make your way to gate number XYZ.”

Desperation hit me. I begged those in front of me to let me pass, but everyone held their spot tightly. Inside the air-conditioned terminal, I was sweating from the stress. Finally, at 8:25 a.m., I was cleared. That was when the real race began.

I ran faster than I had ever run in an airport, dodging barriers and weaving past people. In my rush, I pushed through a security door and set off an alarm. At that moment, nothing else mattered except catching my flight.

What I didn’t know was that my actions raised a serious security alert. Cameras had flagged my behaviour. To airport security, I was not just a late passenger; I was seen as a potential threat. Within seconds, both US and Canadian security personnel stopped me just as I reached the boarding tunnel.

“Where are you going? Who are you?” they asked.

Breathless, I handed over my passport and boarding pass. “But you cannot force your way through a secured area,” one of them said firmly. “Sir, we’re sorry, but you can’t board this flight. You have missed it.” Frustration, exhaustion, and disappointment washed over me. I had done everything right, or so I thought, yet I still missed the flight.

They took me back to the main boarding area and told me I would need to book another ticket. However, in a surprising act of kindness, they rebooked me on the 10:30 a.m. flight at no extra cost. As I sat there, trying to calm down, thoughts flooded my mind: What have I just done? What if they had mistaken me for a threat? What if things had gone horribly wrong? What if they had opened fire on me?

In that moment of reflection, I had no idea something greater was happening. What felt like frustration was, in reality, a divine orchestration. Eventually, I boarded the later flight and arrived safely in Atlanta (Jacksonville area). After completing all arrival procedures and collecting my luggage, I went to the pickup area where my host was to meet me.

And then, something unexpected happened. A man approached me. He looked distressed, sick, tired, and unkempt. There was a heaviness around him that I could not ignore. Almost immediately, I felt a strong urge to talk to him. He started sharing his story, his struggles, his health issues, and the challenges he faced. Without thinking, right there in that public space, I held his hands and began to pray for him.

As I prayed, he said something I will never forget: “I can feel the touch of God in my body.” People walked by, but I didn’t pay attention. That moment mattered more than anything else around me. When we finished, he said something had changed in him. I encouraged him, shared words of hope, and gave him a couple of my books. We exchanged contact information, embraced, and went our separate ways.

Then came the realization. Deep inside, I heard this clearly: “I allowed you to miss your flight because of this man.” Tears filled my eyes. What I thought was inconvenience was, in truth, divine positioning.

Lessons from the Delay

This experience taught me powerful truths that guide my life:

1. Not every delay is a denial; some are divine redirections.
2. God often works beyond our schedules to fulfill His purposes.
3. Opportunities to impact lives sometimes hide in inconveniences.
4. Our biggest frustrations can turn into our most meaningful assignments.

Friends, many of you may be facing delays, detours, or disappointments. You may feel like an enemy of God and the church. You might think God deceived you, or that the church deceived you. It is easy to feel down, but take heart: for those who walk with God, disappointments are often divine appointments.

Consider these timeless examples:

1. Joseph’s failures and disappointments were part of God’s plan to prepare him for the palace.
2. Saul’s search for lost donkeys led him to a throne. God prepared him for the throne through loss.
3. Abraham’s long wait for a child shaped him into the father of faith.
4. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s years of barrenness positioned them to birth John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus.

No matter how far you feel from your desired destination, remember this: all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

From that day on, my view changed. I no longer see delays and detours as just obstacles. Instead, I see them as moments where destiny is being shaped.

Across Africa, Europe, and North America, what seemed like setbacks in my life have become turning points. My delays, losses, and unexpected turns have all contributed to the impact I am lucky to make today.

If God could turn my missed flight into a moment of purpose, He can certainly do the same for you.

Trust the process. Embrace the delay. Your destiny may be waiting on the other side of it. God manages everything in the universe; He can’t mismanage your destiny. God bless you!