How Subtle Spiritual Warfare Erodes Hope and Resilience in Times of Illness

My Dear Wormwood,

I understand your Patient is supporting his wife through a particularly difficult trial—a rare and dreadful brain cancer. This sort of ordeal is fertile ground for our purposes, if managed correctly, though I must caution you against allowing too much overt suffering. While physical pain is a useful distraction, too much of it can send them directly to the Enemy’s arms. Instead, let her condition be uncertain, fluctuating, and isolating. We want her to experience a sort of hope that teeters on the edge, never quite secure, always uncertain, and prone to despair.

Her husband, your true Patient, will be feeling immense emotional weight and mental exhaustion. Do your utmost to persuade him that this burden is his alone to bear. Remind him of how helpless he feels, then let that helplessness curdle into resentment or frustration. Let him fixate on the unfairness of it all. Do not allow him to dwell too long on faith or the Enemy’s supposed "goodness," and if he does, turn that faith into bargaining, where he expects rewards for his devotion.

Her resilience, naturally, is an irritant to us. We would much prefer her to succumb to hopelessness or bitterness, yet she has a distressing way of finding strength in what she calls "faith." You must carefully twist this faith into a source of weakness. Make it about appearances rather than substance. Let her be more concerned with outwardly "keeping the faith" than experiencing any genuine peace. When she prays, fill her mind with anxiety that her prayers might go unanswered. Encourage her to believe that any silence from the Enemy is a form of neglect.

Now, Wormwood, the support of others is another complication. Her community will likely rally around her, and your job is to make this support conditional. Encourage petty conflicts or misunderstandings that strain these relationships. Whisper to her and her husband that perhaps they are imposing too much or taking up too many resources. Let them feel guilty for relying on others, and, in time, they might turn away from the support they so desperately need.

Finally, let us not overlook their hope. This hope is perhaps the most aggravating aspect of the whole affair, as it directly interferes with our aims. Hope must be manipulated. Suggest to them a series of small, unrealistic expectations—miracle cures, sudden remissions—then take special care to see that each of these is dashed in due course. This will nurture a slow but steady erosion of trust, leaving them more isolated and more susceptible to bitterness.

Remember, Wormwood, our aim is not merely to destroy their faith but to cloud their journey with doubt, despair, and division. With subtlety and persistence, we may yet turn this hopeful story into one of quiet, unseen defeat.

Your affectionate uncle,

Screwtape