The Dangerous Delight of Real Joy: When Quiet Joy Disrupts Hell’s Plans
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is go for a walk.
In Letter 13 of The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis gives us a glimpse into a failed demonic strategy. Wormwood’s patient has turned back to Christ, and Screwtape is furious. What caused the reconversion? A peaceful stroll after reading a book he genuinely enjoyed. That’s it.
In the eyes of Hell, this is a disaster. Screwtape refers to a “protective cloud” that forms around some believers, a divine shield that appears when God draws near. This particular moment of contentment and stillness made the patient “inaccessible” to temptation. God’s presence, what Screwtape calls the “Enemy’s most barbarous weapon”, protected a heart open and available.
And that’s something the devils dread.
The Power of Real Pleasures
Screwtape begins cataloging Wormwood’s mistakes. Letting the patient read a book he liked. Letting him take a walk alone. Each of these, though simple, was dangerous. Why? Because real pleasures are rooted in reality, and demons thrive on illusion.
Real pleasures cut through the fog of distraction. They remind us of who we are and what truly brings joy. Screwtape says such pleasures “peel off the crust” the devils have worked hard to build, crusts of false desire, boredom, and performance. These little moments, a book or a breeze, can feel like coming home.
That’s why Hell’s goal is to replace real pleasure with shallow substitutes. The goal is to keep us from the things we truly love and lead us toward whatever is trendy, performative, or culturally approved.
God Wants You Back—Fully You
Here’s where Screwtape gives up the secret: God actually likes us.
“When He talks about losing their selves,” Screwtape says, “He only means abandoning the clamor of self-will.” God doesn’t want mindless robots; he wants redeemed sons and daughters who are more themselves than ever before.
Heaven’s agenda is restoration, not erasure. But Hell’s agenda is just the opposite. The devils work tirelessly to detach us from our true selves, pulling us toward conformity, image management, and the fear of man.
So next time you choose what you truly enjoy, simply because you enjoy it—not because it looks good or earns you points, know that you are resisting Hell in a small but significant way.
The Dangerous Joy of Self-Forgetfulness
According to Screwtape, one of the most dangerous things a Christian can do is enjoy something purely and without pretense. Cooking, reading, playing catch with your kid—when these are done just for the joy of it, they create a kind of self-forgetfulness that blocks demonic manipulation.
This is why Screwtape insists that humans should be trained to ignore their own real preferences. Prefer the “important” book over the one you love. Mingle with the “right” crowd over the people who refresh your soul. Choose what’s fashionable, not what’s fulfilling.
One of the best lines in the letter is delightfully strange:
“I have known a human defended from strong temptation to social ambition by a still stronger taste for tripe and onions.”
Let that sink in. Hell trembles not just before prayer and fasting, but before homemade food and sincere friendships, because those are the places where joy sneaks in and grace takes root.
Feelings Mean Nothing Without Action
So, the patient has returned to faith. What now? Screwtape’s plan is chilling in its simplicity: Let him feel as much as he wants, just don’t let him act on it.
Screwtape quotes Samuel Johnson:
“Active habits are strengthened by repetition, but passive ones are weakened.”
In other words, feelings that go unacted on eventually wither. If the devils can keep our repentance in the realm of good intentions, they win.
This is a warning for us:
- Don’t just feel conviction—act on it.
- Don’t just imagine joy—step into it.
- Don’t just think about God—respond to him.
Hell doesn’t mind your worship songs, your tears, or your journaled prayers, as long as none of it changes what you actually do.
Recovering What’s Real
The path back to God doesn’t always begin with a sermon. Sometimes it starts with a walk. Or a book. Or a quiet cup of coffee on a cool morning.
What matters is what’s real. The things that stir our souls often do so because they strip away the noise and let us see clearly. And in those moments, we discover God is still near, still inviting, still waiting.
So take joy seriously.
Eat the meal. Take the walk. Pick up the book. Delight in the small things that awaken your soul. Because when you do, you might find you’ve stepped into that same cloud of divine presence, and the devils can’t touch you there.
“The man who truly and disinterestedly enjoys any one thing… is by that very fact forearmed against some of our subtlest modes of attack.” — Screwtape