Attacking the symptoms, not the source

I've been sick with some seasonal "bug". I didn't want to go to the doctor, but I finally relented. I tried to rationalize that I could beat it with over the counter medication. Thankfully, I listened to my wife and mother and went to the doctor so I could get a shot of antibiotics.

As I was thinking about it, how often do I attempt to attack the symptoms rather than the source of the problem? I was trying to attack stuffiness with symptom meds rather than the source of the stuffiness with the antibiotics.

Just today as I was back at the doctor to have an MRI on my knee, I thought to myself, "its not that bad, I could make it with regular pain meds. Tough it out. I have good days and bad days, I'll be alright". I don't want to have surgery on it again, but if that is what is best for me long term, then I guess that is what I'll do.

Once again, I was going to attack the symptom, (pain), rather than the source (tear, scar tissue, etc...).

With that being said, how many times do we do this in our spiritual walk? Our marriage? Our relationships? Our jobs? How often do we try to throw a little spiritual medicine at the issue rather than address the real problem?

This type of action is crazy:
It's putting a band-aid on a problem that needs surgery.
It's trying to candy coat a rotten apple hoping that it will taste better.
It's putting a coat on inside rather than turning off the air conditioner.
It's putting more gas in our vehicle rather than fixing the fuel leak.

We should allow God to heal our wounds. We need healing for all of the hurts, pain, torment, disappointments, and character flaws that we possess. Choking the issues down or burying them will not heal the problem, but will only temporarily help the symptoms, its also going to cause more damage long term to both you and your loved ones.

Father I pray that You reveal to us the area's where we need healing. I pray that You will heal the hurts, imperfections, ailments, disease, anguish, and more from our lives. Please be the great physician that we need. Please give us the courage to take these steps, let us not be ashamed. Please heal the source and remove the symptoms. Thank you that our testimonies will be used to help others.