I’m the Only One Who Escaped to Tell You by Toni Thrash

by Rachael Adams | Apr 27, 2023 | The Love Offering Guest Blog Series

Once when my boys were teenagers, they bribed me with doing a month’s worth of laundry if I would just ride this one roller coaster with them. It was perhaps the biggest one I had ever seen. I hate roller coasters. Despise them. I agreed to ride. I truthfully feared for my life and when I got off the rollercoaster, I was crying. I was the only one who escaped to tell you this story. In truth, we all survived, but I’ve never been more afraid!

In Job 1:13-19, we read the following story.

“One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

In the matter of 6 verses, Job loses everything. Four survivors in those few verses gave Job news he never wanted to hear. Have you ever felt this way? Maybe you are here right now.

God set it up so there was a survivor. Guess what? You’re it! I’m not sure what has happened in your life.

Maybe you’ve walked through a divorce.

Maybe you have lost your job.

Maybe you have a child who has wandered from their faith…

Hear me say, “ You are the only one who escaped to tell.”

Take a look in the mirror. That face looking back at you is the one who needs to tell.

I KNOW the fear gripping you is real. You don’t want to talk about it to anyone, much less God! There was a time in my life that it was full-on imploding. I was living a lie and pretending things were so good! It got to the point that I wasn’t sleeping at all for weeks on end. Finally one Monday night, at my women’s Bible Study, I broke down and shared the truth of my home life. It was ugly and I was shaking.

When I got home that night, I had remorse for even saying a word. I was embarrassed and afraid of the judgment that was coming. It never happened. They circled up to be on my team. They got to the hospital before the ambulance arrived.

You see, people in your corner of the world need to hear what you escaped. Vulnerability is courage. The courage to share and be real is the downfall of the shame gripping you!

Whatever has happened in your life, you have friends who will listen. I hope so. More importantly, someone out there needs to hear your story. God never wastes pain.

This is the best part of Job’s story. Job had 3 friends who heard what happened. So they showed up. They didn’t even recognize Job for the boils all over him. Sometimes our friends don’t recognize us for the pain we are wearing on our faces. They wailed loudly, tore their robes, and threw dust over their heads to show their grief.

This is my favorite part: Then they sat on the ground with him for 7 days and nights. No one said a word. They just sat. Were present.

3 close friends. Those who knew him. Knew his character. Knew his heart. Loved him. Job trusted these 3. (Even though they had their moments)

“I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

I wish you hadn’t had to go through whatever IT is. But you did. You are the only one who escaped to tell. Speak! One shaky word at a time.

Ah, the end of Job’s story….. God restored to him double what he had before and gave him 10 more children.

Job was the only one who escaped to tell us. The last part of verse 21 in chapter one says, “Praise be the name of the Lord!”

Those are Job’s words. Are they yours? Maybe not yet, but they will be. You are the only one who escaped to tell us.

About the Author:

Toni is a dynamic teacher and coach to those walking through any life transition. Toni believes there is no shortage of remarkable ideas; just the courage to execute them. Her mottos are two-fold: 1. As long as there is time on the clock, there is hope. 2. Let fear be the losing opponent. She will help you identify growth areas, set reachable goals, find your purpose after transition, and hold you accountable to attaining your goals. She is the mother of two grown sons, Taylor and Cameron, a wonderful daughter-in-love, Jordan, and will be a grandmother in June to Barrett. Toni lives with her dog Andy.