My friend shared a few posts with me on Instagram by Emily Wilson Hussem a few years ago of a ‘modern’ version of some letters in the style of Screwtape Letters (a fantastic book by C.S. Lewis). I found them very insightful at the time.
A year ago she told me that Emily Wilson Hussem had actually written a full book on the subject now and I had to read it.
Never needing too much encouragement to buy a book, recently I made the purchase and read it.
What the book Is about
C.S. Lewis’s book is about a senior demon Screwtape who writes to a younger demon whom he mentors called Wormwood.
Each demon is allocated a ‘subject’ and Screwtape is teaching Wormwood the tactics of lies and deceit to pull the subject away from Jesus Christ.
Hussem has adopted the same style, with her senior demon Stoneheart writing to her mentee Belphegora how to distract, deceive and discourage her subject on a variety of topics such as her looks, motherhood, marriage and identity.
The idea of the book to be written from a demon’s perspective is utterly brilliant.
It makes you have to pay attention all the time as the book is usually saying the opposite of what you’d expect a christian book to say. Because it’s such an unusual concept, it makes for a very engaging and interesting read (albeit a style and idea that Hussem has copied).
Who this book is for
The book would be a good read for any christian woman, as it covers a huge variety of topics across life.
Whilst probably most helpful for a mother as there are a few chapters on motherhood that are very thought provoking, it is not at the exclusion of anyone who doesn’t have children.
Hussem did a very balanced job throughout by reiterating that not every woman would marry or have children, which can often be overlooked by many evangelical books.
What I personally took from It
It was a very refreshing book to read, partly because I find the style and idea so unique. However, the overwhelming message that I have taken away and thought about is that the spiritual battle is so much more real than I often perceive it is.
As christians, we often don’t really spend much time dwelling on the spiritual forces in the world and how we are called to be in God’s full armour ready to fight.
But this book made me think about how much the devil is using things around us to try by any means to cause us to distrust God, doubt God or simply forget Him. Even something as simple as my phone can be used by the devil to try to distract me or fill my head with lies.
How I think about my postpartum body has been influenced by the world. How dissatisfaction can grow from little tiny seeds and cause someone to backslide so easily.
The biggest message that the senior demon said was to stop the subject from praying. And it made me realise how much of a gift prayer is and how much prayer is a powerful and effective weapon to flee the devil and run to Christ.
It’s changed how much I use my phone, trying to be on it less and use it intentionally and productively when I’m on it.
It’s slowly changing how I think about other women around me, how I need to seek to encourage them and thank God for their gifts and not see everything as a competition or a cause for despair about my own abilities.
Some of my favourite quotes
“ ‘This is a burden‘”‘. This is the broken record we aim to keep playing in the back of her mind. The goal is to make it all a terrible, heavy burden. Children will hold you back. Children will keep you from living a full life. Children are a burden. A victim mentality, if you will. You want her to believe she’s not raising saints for glory, she’s raising people for absolutely no end whatsoever’
“Without question, the screens are the main reason she’s dissatisfied with everything – she is constantly bombarded with images of success, wealth and beauty that cause her to feel dissatisfied with her own situation. Comparison with others in her community follows closely behind, infecting all her relationships with envy”
“Our Enemy’s greatest disciples are the ones who serve without concern over who is watching, listening or paying attention’
“The Enemy’s message to her again and again, as He invites her to daily trust is ‘Be not afraid’. So as loud as you can, you must interject at every opportunity ‘Be afraid. Be very afraid’ ”
Final thoughts
I’m trying to be more thankful for everything that God has given me because only then do I see God in everything.
It’s made me think about my maternity leave in a whole new way, seeing many positives and joys in my children that I hadn’t noticed before because I was listening to the devil’s lies about motherhood.
It’s made me realise that God wants me to rest in my identity of loved in him, rather than desperately trying to make myself worthy enough through what I can do or achieve.
Whilst there were a couple of things I wouldn’t fully agree with around femininity, I have to say this book is a thoroughly excellent read and the most influential book I have read in 2025.
You can buy the book here and also read The Screwtape Letters as well if you haven’t before.
