Podcast Episode

Finding Freedom from Toxic People

About this Episode

Episode Summary

When you read the term “toxic people,” who comes to mind? A coworker? A family member? Someone at church? Maybe it’s a group of people who feed off of one another in the worst of ways. What makes someone toxic? What’s the difference between a toxic person and someone who’s broken and needs extra love? How do you know when it’s time to walk away from a toxic person? In this episode, our guest Gary Thomas will be leading us through a discussion of how to recognize and when to walk away from toxic people.

Episode Transcript

This episode has a downloadable transcript only.

Show Notes

  • “Walking away isn’t always a statement of failure; it’s a statement of strategy.”

  • If we let toxic people control our thoughts and focus, then we lose sight of the purpose God has for us.

  • “Here’s my voice, here’s my mission” . . .  and don’t let a toxic person distract you from that mission.

  • Women in their fifties will look back at the toxic people from their twenties and laugh at how insignificant those people have become in their lives.

  • “Gaslighting is when somebody makes you feel like you’re crazy when you are speaking the truth.”

  • “When you question your own sanity, they are destroying your foundation.”

  • “All toxic people are difficult, but not all difficult people are toxic.”

  • “Toxic people love to act in a toxic manner. Healthy people will occasionally act in a toxic way.”

  • “Walking away is actually an act of worship.”

  • “Toxic people often use toxic language. . . . They don’t want you to act like a Christian to please God, they are using your desire to please God as a weapon to control you.”

Download the Transcript of this Episode!

Links Mentioned

About the Guest(s)

Gary Thomas

Gary Thomas is the best-selling author of over 20 books including the topic of today’s show: When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People. Gary serves on the teaching team at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and has been married to his wife, Lisa, for 25 years. They have three adult children and a granddaughter.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What do you think?

More Episodes

Episode #215
February 1, 2026
Parenting and mentoring children comes with countless decisions—but how do you know when to say yes, when to say no, and how to hold loving boundaries that truly matter? Steph Thurling discovered the power of healthy boundaries through a difficult postpartum season and the ever-changing phases of motherhood. In this God Hears Her conversation, Elisa Morgan sits down with Steph to explore what it looks like to set wise, grace-filled boundaries, raise children who love Jesus, and keep the long view in mind through every season of parenting.
Episode #214
January 25, 2026
Have you experienced the end of a relationship? Maybe a friend walked away from you, a family member cut you out of their life, or you went through a break-up or even a divorce. Justin and Trisha Davis were separated and on the verge of ending their marriage. They had two paths in front of them – divorce or restoration. Join hosts, Eryn Eddy Adkins and Vivan Mabuni, as they learn how God restored Justin and Trisha’s marriage and refined both their hearts during this authentic God Hears Her conversation.
Episode #213
January 19, 2026
Do you ever feel like you’re running a never-ending race as you try to achieve things or work for things that seem out of reach? Mary Marantz spent most of her life striving for success in her career and was never satisfied with the results, even when they were great. Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy Adkins as they take a peek behind the curtain of Mary’s life and find out how she eventually learned to pursue God instead of success during this God Hears Her conversation.
Three friends smiling and embracing outdoors

Get Connected

Sign up to get early access to new book releases, podcasts, blog updates, and more!