Pastor B.J. Knefley

Have you ever considered that the problem you’ve been facing might have an underlying cause that hasn’t been addressed? So far, the only treatment you’ve received is for the symptoms, or even just one symptom. This applies to both emotional and physical issues.

Several years ago, I was diagnosed with asthma. As some might know, I was soon started on various inhalers. Although they were helpful, none of the medications fully resolved the issue. Then suddenly, I became a mess. At certain times of the year, I would find myself needing not just an inhaler but also nebulizer treatments. I struggled to identify the root cause of the problem affecting me. I discovered that dairy was part of the problem, so I avoided dairy products. But even that didn’t solve all of my issues. One day, I asked my provider if I might be dealing with E-asthma (eosinophilic asthma). They replied that I probably wasn’t, as it was rare, but they would test me for it anyway. Guess what? I do have E-asthma. I am now on a monthly self-injection, which has reduced my asthma symptoms to virtually zero. Although I haven’t pinpointed the exact root cause, we have at least eliminated the debilitating symptoms caused by acute asthma.

Have you ever thought that anger is a symptom, not the main problem? Yet, we often medicate anger and send people to anger management classes. I’ve often seen anger as an emotion used to protect something. After all, how many people enjoy being around angry individuals? Don’t we prefer to keep our distance when they’re angry? What about depression? Is it the root issue, or is it a symptom of something deeper? Please understand me—symptoms must be addressed. All I’m saying is that if we can find the root cause, we are more likely to solve the problem.

In Genesis 4:6-7, God questions Cain about his anger and depression. The main issue was that Cain wasn’t getting what he wanted. God told Cain that he needed to control his emotions. Instead, he let his emotions lead to murder. Think about it.