Holding On to Hope: How God Turns Sorrow into Joy

Have you ever felt like life was pressing down so hard that it almost crushed you? Henri Nouwen describes this feeling so well: “When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become.” It’s true, isn’t it? When sorrow grips us, it can feel impossible to see beyond the weight of the pain, much less imagine that something good could come from it.

Sometimes, our sorrows feel all-consuming. We might find ourselves with our faces on the ground, wondering how we can even take another step. Nouwen’s words remind us that in those moments, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Jesus himself experienced sorrow so deep that he “sweat drops of blood.” Even he was crushed under the weight of his pain, so we know we’re not alone in feeling that way.

But Nouwen doesn’t stop there, and neither should we. He gently nudges us toward hope. He reminds us that our “cup of sorrow” can also become our “cup of joy.” This doesn’t mean our sorrow is trivial or that we should rush to feel better. Instead, it means that in God’s hands, the sorrow we experience can be transformed. One day, we will taste joy as fully as we taste sorrow today.

I find comfort in this image. When I’m overwhelmed, I don’t have to force myself to “look on the bright side.” Instead, I can sit with my sorrow, knowing that God is with me, even in the deepest pain. And maybe that’s all we need to focus on right now—not the pressure to feel better but simply the reassurance that joy is still possible, even if it feels far away.

I hope that, as you carry whatever burdens you have, you can hold onto the hope that God is working within you, even when it feels like you’re being crushed. One day, in ways we may not yet understand, our sorrows can indeed turn into joy. Until then, we can trust that God is with us, holding us close, guiding us through every step.