Demonology 101: Screwtape – Letter 8

Navigating the Spiritual Tides: Insights from Screwtape’s Eighth Letter

Life as a Christian is a journey filled with highs and lows, moments of divine closeness followed by periods of spiritual dryness. These seasons can often leave us feeling adrift, questioning God’s presence and our faith. In the eighth letter of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, Screwtape, a senior demon, offers his apprentice Wormwood a glimpse into the “law of undulation,” providing valuable insights into how spiritual peaks and troughs shape the believer’s journey.

The Law of Undulation: Life’s Peaks and Valleys

Screwtape introduces the concept of the law of undulation, which recognizes that human life is a series of highs and lows, a rhythm embedded in our very nature. As beings made in God’s image, we are “amphibians,” simultaneously spiritual and physical creatures. This dual nature means that while our spirits can aim for eternal truths, our physical selves are bound to time and its inevitable changes. Life, therefore, oscillates between moments of clarity and doubt, passion and disinterest.

These undulations are universal. Consider your own experiences: a hobby that once captivated your attention now gathers dust, or the ebb and flow of energy in your friendships and work. In the same way, our spiritual lives shift between moments of divine connection and seasons of dryness. Screwtape notes that these trough periods are not inherently victories for hell, but they can be exploited depending on how we respond.

God’s Approach: Wooing, Not Ravishing

One of the most profound truths in this letter is Screwtape’s observation that “God cannot ravish; he can only woo.” Unlike the demonic forces that seek to dominate and consume, God invites us into relationship through love and freedom. He doesn’t coerce or overwhelm our will but instead desires that we choose him freely.

This is why God doesn’t consistently manifest his presence in overwhelming ways. As Screwtape explains, God knows that undeniable, miraculous signs would leave us with no choice but to believe. Such belief, born of compulsion, would lack the authenticity and depth that God values. Instead, God often withdraws, allowing us to navigate seasons of spiritual dryness, trusting in his character and promises even when we feel distant from him.

The Growth That Happens in the Troughs

While we often yearn for spiritual mountaintops, Screwtape reveals that God relies more on the trough periods to shape us. During these times, when God feels absent, we are invited to stand firm in faith, to obey out of love rather than emotion. Screwtape begrudgingly admits, “The prayers offered in the state of dryness are those which please him best.”

Think of a parent teaching their child to walk. At first, they hold the child’s hands, providing steady support. But eventually, they step back, allowing the child to wobble and stumble. The falls are not failures but necessary steps toward independence. Similarly, God’s occasional withdrawal teaches us to rely on his truths rather than our feelings, helping us grow into mature, faithful followers.

Screwtape warns Wormwood: “Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring but still intending to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of him seems to have vanished and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.” This steadfast obedience, even in the darkest moments, is a powerful act of faith that pleases God and frustrates hell’s schemes.

Practical Takeaways: Responding to the Troughs

When we find ourselves in a spiritual trough, the temptation is to give up, to believe that God has abandoned us or that our faith is failing. But the law of undulation reminds us that these low points are temporary. Here’s how we can respond:

1. Keep Obeying: Even when you don’t feel God’s presence, continue in the practices that draw you closer to him, prayer, Scripture reading, worship. Faithfulness in the dry seasons strengthens your trust in God.
2. Recognize the Growth Opportunity: The troughs are where we grow the most. These seasons refine our character, teaching us to rely on God’s promises rather than our emotions.
3. Stay Connected: Don’t isolate yourself during spiritual dryness. Seek community with other believers who can encourage and pray for you.
4. Remember the Peaks Will Return: Just as the low tides give way to high tides, the troughs of our spiritual lives will eventually lead to new heights of connection with God.

A Glimpse Ahead

Screwtape concludes this letter with a chilling tease, hinting at strategies to exploit these trough periods to lead humans further from God. For us, this is a reminder to stay vigilant, guarding our hearts and minds against the subtle temptations that seek to pull us away from our Creator.

In the end, the law of undulation is not something to fear but to embrace. It is a natural rhythm that God uses to grow us, drawing us closer to him even when he feels far away. When we keep walking in faith through the valleys, we find that God’s promises remain steadfast, his love unwavering, and his grace sufficient. Let the troughs teach you to trust, and let the peaks remind you of the joy that awaits. Together, they shape the story of your journey with God.