By Dr. Lawrence Osifo
How to Break Off Evil Yokes
By Dr. Lawrence Osifo
Chapter One
The Weight of the Yoke
It was a bright morning in the town of Benin, yet for Osagie, a young man struggling with life’s challenges, the day felt heavy. He sat on a wooden bench outside his family’s small house, his eyes fixed on the dusty road. Thoughts of failure, rejection, and fear clouded his heart like thick smoke.“Why me?” Osagie whispered. “Why does my life feel like a load I cannot carry?”His mother, Mama Rebecca, stepped outside and noticed his troubled look. She walked over, laid a hand on his shoulder, and said softly, “My son, everyone in this world carries yokes. Some are yokes of poverty, some of sickness, some of failure, and some of guilt. The question is not whether you have a yoke, but how you will break free from it.”Osagie sighed deeply. “But Mama, it feels as though the problems are chained to me. I try to shake them off, but they only grow heavier.”Mama Rebecca looked into his eyes and replied, “You are not alone in this struggle. Even great men of the Bible carried heavy yokes. Paul was bound by hatred and blindness until he surrendered to the will of God. Job was crushed by grief and pain until he repented in dust and ashes. Even Jesus, in His moment of deep sorrow, cried out, ‘Thy will be done, O Lord.’ Their yokes broke when they chose God’s way.”That evening, Osagie thought long and hard. He realised that the problems he carried—fear, anger, doubt, and failure—were his own yokes. And unless he found a way to release them, he would remain trapped.
Reflection Questions – Chapter One
1. What kind of yokes did Osagie feel he was carrying? _________________________________________
2. How did Mama Rebecca describe the reality of yokes in life? _________________________________________
3. What examples from the Bible were mentioned as people who carried yokes? _________________________________________
4. What happened to Paul, Job, and Jesus when they chose God’s way? _________________________________________
5. What personal lessons can you learn from Osagie’s struggles? _________________________________________
Chapter Two
The Power of Surrender
The next day, Osagie decided to visit his pastor, Dr. Lawrence Osifo, a man known for his wisdom and compassion. Osagie poured out his heart, speaking of his fears, failures, and the sense of being trapped.Dr. Lawrence Osifo listened patiently, then leaned forward and said, “Osagie, yokes cannot be broken by human strength. They are broken by surrender. The will of God is the key.”“But Pastor,” Osagie interrupted, “what does surrender even mean? Does it mean I stop fighting?”The Reverend smiled. “Not at all, my son. Surrender is not giving up—it is handing over. Imagine you are carrying a heavy load on your head, and someone stronger offers to take it from you. Would you keep carrying it out of pride, or would you let him help?”Osagie nodded slowly. “I would let him help.”“Exactly,” the Reverend replied. “Paul surrendered when he fell to the ground on the road to Damascus and cried out, ‘Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?’ Job surrendered when he confessed that he had spoken without knowledge and repented in dust and ashes. Jesus surrendered when He prayed, ‘Thy will be done.’ In surrender, their chains fell off, and their lives were transformed.”That evening, Osagie knelt by his bed. With tears in his eyes, he whispered, “Lord, I surrender my burdens, my fears, my failures, and my anger. I cannot carry them anymore. Let Your will be done in my life.” As he prayed, a strange peace filled his heart. It was as though invisible chains had snapped, and he could breathe again.
Reflection Questions – Chapter Two
1. Why did Osagie visit Dr. Lawrence Osifo? _________________________________________
2. How did Dr. Lawrence Osifo explain the meaning of surrender? _________________________________________
3. What examples from the Bible show people who surrendered to God? _________________________________________
4. How did Osagie feel after his prayer of surrender? _________________________________________
5. What does surrender mean in your personal life? _________________________________________
Chapter Three
Walking in Freedom
The days that followed brought a new season into Osagie’s life. He was no longer crushed by the weight of his troubles. Though challenges still came, he carried them with faith and courage, knowing he was not alone.One afternoon, Osagie met his childhood friend Daniel, who noticed the difference in his countenance.“Osagie, you look lighter, as though your burdens are gone. What happened?” Daniel asked with curiosity.Osagie smiled and replied, “I learned that yokes are broken not by struggling, but by surrendering to God’s will. When I stopped fighting with my own strength and allowed the Holy Spirit to lead me, the chains of fear, anger, and failure broke off me.”Daniel frowned. “But are you saying you have no more problems?”Osagie shook his head. “Not at all, my friend. Problems are part of life. But now I face them with peace, because I know the Holy Spirit carries my burdens. I am free from the evil yokes of despair.”Mama Rebecca, who overheard their conversation, joined in and said, “This is the secret of freedom. When you walk in the Spirit and do the will of God, no evil yoke can bind you. Troubles may come, but they cannot conquer you. The yokes will always be broken in the presence of the Holy Spirit.”Osagie raised his eyes to the sky and whispered, “Thy will be done, O Lord.” And in his heart, he knew he had discovered the lasting path to freedom.
Reflection Questions – Chapter Three
1. What change did Osagie’s friend Daniel notice in him? _________________________________________
2. How did Osagie explain the secret of his freedom? _________________________________________
3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in breaking evil yokes? _________________________________________
4. How did Mama Rebecca describe true freedom from yokes? _________________________________________
5. How can you apply Osagie’s story to your own life? _________________________________________
Conclusion
Every person in life faces problems—evil yokes that weigh them down. But these yokes are not permanent. They break when you stop relying on your own strength and surrender to the will of God. Paul, Job, and Jesus showed us the way: surrender, repentance, and obedience to God’s will. The Holy Spirit is always ready to lift every burden and break every chain. Like Osagie, your freedom begins the moment you say: “Thy will be done, O Lord.”
Glossary
1. Yoke – A symbol of burden, problem, or difficulty that weighs a person down.
2. Surrender – Letting go of personal control and submitting to the will of God.
3. Repentance – Turning away from wrong actions or thoughts and seeking forgiveness.
4. Holy Spirit – The Spirit of God who guides, comforts, and empowers believers.
5. Thy will be done – A prayer of obedience and trust in God’s plan.