Letter 30: Fatigue and Reality

Review:
Letter 29 discussed fear and being a coward.

 Outline:
  • Screwtape scolds Wormwood for lack of progress and warns him that he will be in trouble if he does not start producing results. The patient was fearful, but still obeyed the Lord.
  • Discusses the merits of fatigue, warning that total exhaustion is not wanted because it can lead to gentleness and absoluteness.
  • Moderate fatigue where they shatter a man's hopes of near relief can be very productive for Satan.
  • Even if real relief is coming shortly, if they get the patient to anger just prior to the relief, then they have won.
  • Differences between the sexes when fatigued: women talk more, men talk less.
  • Also discusses twisting the idea of reality: have the negative things in life be felt as "reality" and the good things as mere sentiment. (e.g. guts splattered = reality, happy children = sentiment).
Terminology:
  • Irremediable - impossible to remedy or correct.
  • poppet - puppet, like a toy.

Questions/Discussions:
  1. Have you ever seen a small child just conked out, being carried by their parent?
  2. Describe the time you when you were most fatigued.
  3. What sins are most likely to result from fatigue?
  4. How does God want us to handle fatigue? Matthew 11:28-30 (this is a command, not invitation; i.e. in the imperative form)
  5. Should we ever be fatigued? Galatians 6:7-10 (here weary is from the meaning faint of heart)
  6. How does Screwtape want to use the different definitions of "reality"?
Scripture:
Homework:
Check your concordance (biblical index) for "weary" and "strength".

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