Take note that cells may encounter different reactions depending on what it is being exposed to. Chemical reactions are common as well. There are even times when it will be going through different reactions all at the same time. Cells that are in a state of equilibrium may react differently.
The reactants and the products will still be available in the metabolic pathway but this time, they will not be active. Take note that they will only appear this way because the product and substrate will be the same or equal to each other which means that no reaction will take place.
A cell has many chemical reactions occurring simultaneously. The metabolism is always at work and is driven by these chemical reactions. However, in a state of equilibrium the substrates and reactants are in a specific ratio without any changes. In other words it can be said that a chemical reaction in equilibrium is one in which the reactants and products in a metabolic pathway are both used in a metabolic pathway, which is in fact inactive.
Although, in reality this means that the rate of substrate and products interconverting into one another is equal, which gives the impression as if nothing is happening and the pathway is inactive.