C.S. Lewis wrote that we are “far too easily pleased” — like a child making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine a holiday at the sea. Our problem isn’t that our desires are too strong but too weak: we settle for lesser pleasures when God offers “fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). Here’s what that means.
It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak…
-C.S. Lewis
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
For someone with a simpler mind like me, I always appreciate when God is super clear and direct in Scripture. Where do we find the fullness of joy? In God’s presence! It is abundantly straight forward. When we are walking step in step with God, that is where we will find pleasures forevermore.
All too often though, our lives tend to lack joy and pleasure. We tend to get caught up in things of this world that will never satisfy. Why is that? I love the quote C.S. Lewis gives in this regard:
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” -C.S. Lewis “Weight of Glory”
We lack joy because we settle for things of this world. We are far too easily pleased with elementary things. The question we must ask ourselves is this: are we settling for mud pies in a slum when God wants to give us a holiday at the sea? Are we setting our thoughts and efforts and affections on things that will never satisfy and will always be lacking?
God is offering us the fullness of joy, pleasure forevermore in Him – press on after Him!
Prayer this week: that we would dwell in His presence and drink deeply in the fullness of joy, the pleasures forevermore that He alone offers.
Press on!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the C.S. Lewis “desires too weak” quote come from?
From “The Weight of Glory,” Lewis’s 1941 sermon: our Lord finds our desires “not too strong, but too weak” — we fool about with drink, ambition, and lust “when infinite joy is offered us.” The famous mud-pies image comes from the same paragraph.
Is it wrong to desire pleasure as a Christian?
No — Scripture commands it, rightly aimed: “Delight yourself in the LORD” (Psalm 37:4), “in your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). Sin isn’t desiring too much; it’s settling for too little — trading the fountain of living waters for broken cisterns (Jeremiah 2:13).
How do I strengthen my desire for God?
Appetite grows by tasting: “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8). Feed on Scripture daily, pray honestly about your dullness (Psalm 90:14), fast occasionally to expose lesser dependencies, and worship with people whose joy is contagious. Starve the mud pies; book the holiday at the sea.
Related: How To Find Contentment In God and How To Have Intimacy With God
Here are other Frequently Asked Questions and how the Bible answers them.
