Bible Studies

Are You Yoked to Circumstances?

by Michael Edwards 
03/14/19
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Do circumstances rule your life? Are you led around by the constant pursuit of better circumstances? Do you feel good when things are going great and bad when things are going not so great? Or do you pretty much feel uneasy all the time, even when circumstances are great, fearing the “what if” of future circumstances? Is your life, your peace and happiness, yoked or joined, to your circumstances?

If our life is all about chasing better circumstances for peace and happiness, the grass is greener; we are sacrificing the peace, contentment, joy and power God has given us already at the altar of this world’s false peace. This leads to a life as a Christian that will be like a roller coaster, in bondage, yoked to circumstances, a very bumpy ride indeed often walking apart from God. A life that is constantly under a heavy burden in the pursuit of circumstances, never content with what we have as we chase the enemy’s illusion of peace in better circumstances. Having hope of finally attaining a lasting peace that circumstances can never bring.

While we all want good things for our family, and God calls all of us to work, chasing circumstantial peace can be a trap of endless work and endless burden that can destroy our life and family and even our experience in the midst of the best circumstances. Maybe you are in this place right now and circumstances are pretty good, but you feel weary and heavy laden, fearful of losing your peace because you know things could go wrong at any moment when our happiness is founded on the shifting sands of circumstances. Maybe you feel empty after chasing circumstances all of your life and now even the best circumstances are not enough to make you truly happy. Or maybe, you think you are a failure and hopeless because the pursuit of wrong circumstances has left you sitting in a what seems like a dead-end life. No matter where you are at, His peace, that has nothing to do with circumstances, can overcome all the worlds circumstances and change your life.

Being yoked, joined, to circumstances for our peace and happiness often leads us to be troubled and afraid; a barrier the enemy wants in place to keep us from the true peace we can only find in Jesus. Jesus left us His peace as an inheritance, bequeathed it to us; it is ours right now, our one job is to believe God and not to allow our heart to be troubled and afraid.

Jesus said: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 ESV

While God’s desire and promise is to bless us and reward those who seek Him, God did not promise us perfect circumstances in this world. Jesus warned us we would have trouble in this world. Then he went on to tell us to take heart because He had overcome the world. Jesus promised us peace ‘in Him’ not in this world.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 NAS

We all want peace and a better life. The problem is that circumstantial peace is short-lived, only comes with better circumstances and leaves at the first thought of less than ideal circumstances. Circumstantial peace is the enemy’s false peace and a trap I have dealt with much of my life, constant, unending pursuit and being led by circumstances with the idea that better circumstances are the final answer. In this bondage, we often sacrifice the present for some distant point on the horizon that always seems to move a bit further away when we think we are almost there.

In the constant pursuit of better circumstances to find our happiness, peace and joy, we often find ourselves with blinders on, yoked to circumstances, in bondage to the constant pursuit of the fleeting peace they offer. Circumstances ruling our moods and life, often leading us in the wrong direction, away from God.

We are supposed to be yoked to Christ, Jesus leading and ruling our life, not circumstances.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30 NAS

Jesus is the one we are called to look to and pursue for peace and joy, not circumstances. In Jesus, we will find true peace, not found in this world. Jesus is the only one who offers the peace that overcomes all circumstances, the true everlasting peace we seek. When we are yoked to Jesus, we are abiding in Him and the fruits of the Spirit are produced in us and our lives bear fruit likewise.

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. John 15:4 NAS

Trust your life and circumstances to God no matter where you find yourself today, do not doubt His love and desire to protect and help you, do not worry about or fear your circumstances. Rest in Christ and see the power of God revealed in your life.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matt 6:25-34 NAS

Remove the Yoke of Circumstances and Put on His Yoke Today

Ask yourself what you want, circumstantial peace that you must always chase and is nowhere to be found when circumstances are bad, when you need it most? Or do you want Jesus peace revealed to you that is already yours and overcomes all circumstances?

If we want to walk in His peace in all circumstances, then we need to seek His peace in the midst of our circumstances. We need to practice at walking in His peace, if possible before we need it most. This is part of renewing the mind that the Bible talks about. We let go of the old ways and embrace all that is new in Christ. Ask your Father to help you make this change in your mind, heart and focus. Tell Jesus you want to be yoked to Him and Him alone.

Next, take off the yoke of circumstances by making a commitment to stop chasing circumstantial peace. The next time you find yourself praying for the world’s false peace, asking God for better circumstances, pray instead for wisdom and seek Jesus overcoming peace in the midst of your circumstances. You may find it hard initially to stop praying for circumstances to change. If it is easier, commit to this change for today, and then tomorrow,  the next day and so on until you see the power, peace and freedom of God and have no desire to go back to the pursuit of circumstantial peace.

Wherever you find yourself, be still in your circumstance and know that He is God. Look intently to your Father like a little child gazing at their dad and let your Father show you He is there with you in whatever you are going through. Listen for and seek His voice and wisdom, slow down and sense His love. He never leaves us or forsakes us. Think of Peter, the water, winds, and waves were the circumstances at the moment. When Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he rose above and overcame his circumstances. It is only when he let doubt and fear creep in that he fell back into his circumstances of the moment. And just like Peter, if we fall into our circumstances, Jesus is always there reaching out His hand to help us. We cannot lose, even when we die in this world, we step into the fulfillment of our redemption and inheritance with the Saints.

Remember what you have been blessed with, be thankful for all the blessings God has given you, all the blessings you do have right now, even in the midst of tough circumstances. God tells us the best way to get through the tough times is to focus on things above, the loftier and higher things, eternity and the great blessings we do have in Christ. Be thankful for the big picture, the eternal, amid our temporal circumstances. You can always find something to be thankful for even when things are bad.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.1 Thess 5:18 NAS

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:4-7 NAS

When circumstances are tough, keep your eyes on and be thankful for God’s promise of eternal life with Him, no matter what you see today. Your eternal life is guaranteed. You are a co-heir with Christ qualified to participate in the inheritance of the Saints.

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor 4:17-18 NAS

Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Col 1:12

And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Rom 8:17 NAS

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.  The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4:8-9 NAS

His peace lasts forever and overcomes all circumstances. When it shows up in living color it can change everything, especially you and how you see your circumstances. If you want to make the best decisions in your life, pray and ask God for His wisdom and commit to staying in His peace no matter what is going on. Doubt, worry and fear will not help our situation and they are the worst place to make decisions. Slow down, take a breath and seek His peace in your circumstances. See yourself yoked to Jesus, letting Him lead the way.

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! 2 Thess 3:16 NAS

His peace is the only peace worth having and it is yours if Jesus is your Savior and you pursue His peace as we are called to do in every situation.

Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14 NAS

His love never gives up and endures through all circumstances.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Cor 13:7 NLT

His love, wisdom and peace are where we find the secret to contentment in all circumstances.

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  Phil 4:11-13 NAS

Let’s refocus our eyes and our pursuit unto Him, take off the yoke of circumstances and put on His yoke, His light burden where we find rest.

More New Covenant Bible Studies that Apply: 

Are You Praying for The Wrong Kind of Peace? 

Chasing Circumstantial Peace Leaves Us with No Peace

Prayer for Peace in All Circumstances

God Will Provide for His Ambassadors

How to Stop Fear and Worry

How to Have Peace in All Circumstances

Peace and Joy

Chasing Circumstantial Peace Leaves Us with No Peace

How to Walk in Jesus Peace No Matter What

Many more New Covenant Bible Studies HERE. Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross. 

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. Luke 22:20