If we are honest, many of us have faced disappointment, sorrow, grief, hurt, pain, rejection, trauma, etc. - in which we chose to deal with it by trying to anesthetize the pain. Whether we used drugs, alcohol, sex, food, people, or church to anesthetize it – to give us that temporal relief to avoid dealing with the pain.

But once the anesthesia wears off, the pain comes back. If we don’t deal with it, the pain is still there. If you’ve had any type of surgical procedure, there’s the anesthesia – the procedure is done - you wake up in recovery, still under anesthesia – but eventually the anesthesia wears off; and sometimes the pain is more excruciating after the procedure than it was before you went in.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3).

We need to deal with the pain from the root. It is going to be painful but that’s the only way we can really heal; because we can’t go through life continually anesthetizing. We may have to confront ourselves or others. We may have to acknowledge some things we don’t like about ourselves. It may be painful, but it is necessary.

We thank God for the Anesthetists He sends to administer temporal relief - be it in the form of prayer, a kind word, encouragement, or a warm embrace; but ultimately, we need to be healed.

God is the Great Physician. He can heal us – pain removed permanently – complete healing - no longer medicating symptoms - no more Anesthetizing. He is the Master Physician. Trust Him. You will not die on the table. God will heal you - making you whole - complete lacking nothing.

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Remember, if God said it, then That Settles It.