Treating Symptoms

A few years back I was experiencing frequent cluster headaches and other unexplained symptoms. I sought medical attention, but doctors couldn't find a reason. The doctor's approach was to treat the symptoms and prescribed me pain killers. My body was reacting to stress. Numbing the pain was only a temporary relief, the underlying cause needed remedying.

I suspect this happens to many; they try to treat symptoms in their life by temporary fixes than by dealing with the root cause. Take for example someone suffering from a low self esteem. A temporary fix may be getting attention, good or bad. Really they need emotional and psychological healing. Another example can be a need to acquire things in order to prove ones worth when really self worth is something that cannot be purchased. We push pain away and mask it by temporary moments of happiness or relief. This can apply to physical, mental and spiritual ailments of pain. Just as we seek a physician to help treat physical illnesses, we should seek God in our time of mental and spiritual illness.

Physical, mental, and spiritual trials can make us feel like we are dwelling alone in our own personal wilderness. It may feel like relief isn't in sight regardless of our efforts. We may turn to anything for relief, only to find ourselves disillusioned. Is the answer of seeking God too good to be true that we often fail to even attempt to try? Maybe for some this is true, but for others maybe the pain they bear is too much that they truly believe that there is no answer or relief for their suffering thus it is easier to numb it than deal with.

"You can never get enough of what you don't need, because what you don't need won't satisfy you." -Dallin H. Oaks

Don't we all do this in one respect or another? I know I have. When we replace God with meaningless things it only prolongs our pain and discomfort. You won't find the answer in the temporary attention given by others (hello social media), in superficial relationships, in acquiring more money or power, or increasing your time at the gym. No worldly thing or place can replace the divine strength and assistance that comes from a personal relationship with God.

One of my favorite stories is about the Prophet Joseph Smith's incarceration in Liberty Jail. He wrote of his experience, “Our souls have been bowed down and we have suffered much distress ... and truly we have had to wade through an ocean of trouble.” The trial he and the other men with him were suffering through took a toll on them physically as much as mentally and spiritually. In his pain Joseph prayed to God saying, "O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries? Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?" Although not immediate, the answer came, "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

 How can one be expected to endure well our afflictions? Russell M. Nelson said that "Faith is the antidote to fear." Our afflictions are trials of faith and by increasing that faith, we can dispel the fear that comes with the pain of life. That same faith will strengthen our ability to endure well our afflictions. Remember "thine adversity and thine afflictions be but a small moment...if thou endure it well...thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." Have faith in God. He will not forsake you. Your trials will come to an end and whatever foes you face (physical, mental or spiritual) He will give you the strength to triumph over them.

"...I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments...ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led." 1 Nephi 17:13  

There is nothing that you are brought to in life which you cannot overcome in Christ. It is when we attempt to rely solely on ourselves for relief that our hearts fail us. Let God lead you through it and you will be guided to that promised land of peace and plenty. Great shall be your joy, and you'll witness miracles in your life and know that God does indeed live and loves you.