Finding Joy in the Midst of Trials: How to Discover Hope in Christ During Difficult Seasons

In the early 20th century, a young boy named Jon grew up in the bustling, complex world of finance. Jon was not yet a mathematician, an economist, or a statistician. He was simply the son of a senior banker, surrounded by the echoes of intense negotiations and the ever-shifting dynamics of gain and loss. Yet, from his seat at the family dinner table, Jon observed something extraordinary: the outcomes of financial decisions were rarely simple. It wasn’t always a case of “you win, I lose,” or “I win, you lose.” Sometimes, the best negotiations meant that everyone could walk away with something valuable.

Years later, Jon—better known as John von Neumann—would change the world with his revolutionary ideas. He invented game theory, a mathematical framework that explained how people make decisions when their outcomes depend on others. One of his simplest but most powerful concepts was the distinction between zero-sum games and non-zero-sum games. In a zero-sum game, one person’s gain is precisely another person’s loss. But in a non-zero-sum game, the point was whether everyone’s gain or loss was either greater or lesser than zero. It’s possible, Jon argued, for everyone to win.

At first glance, you might think game theory has nothing to do with human suffering. But what if I told you that our trials in life are more like non-zero-sum games than we realize? What if suffering was a non-zero-sum game? What if there is more gain through suffering than there is loss?

The Non-Zero-Sum Nature of Suffering

To understand how this applies to the Christian experience of suffering, we need to reframe our expectations. One of the most unique insights Christianity offers is this: Christians do not assume they are entitled to a life free from suffering. This notion—that suffering should be absent from life—is a deeply ingrained but ultimately flawed expectation. History, Scripture, and even common experience teach us that no one is exempt from hardship.

But Scripture actually takes it a step further. The apostle Paul teaches a principle of rejoicing in suffering in Romans 5:1–5 (NLT):

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

Paul’s words seem counterintuitive. Rejoice in suffering? Who does that? But here’s where Christianity’s perspective diverges sharply from the norm: We believe suffering can yield extraordinary benefits. Suffering, in this sense, is not a zero-sum loss but an opportunity for immense spiritual gain.

We Don’t Deserve a Life Without Suffering

You should read that headline above one more time. From a biblical perspective, the idea that life should be devoid of suffering is not just unrealistic—it’s theologically unsound. As Christians, we understand that humanity is marked by sin. We are born with a nature that makes us enemies of God, deserving His righteous wrath. Any blessing or benefit we experience is a result of God’s grace, not our merit. Our salvation, our peace with God, and even our very lives are undeserved gifts.

It’s a radical shift from the modern notion of entitlement. We live in a world that values rights and fairness, but Scripture paints a different picture. Life without pain is an ideal we all desire, but it’s not something anyone can demand. Every blessing is a testament to God’s grace, not a privilege to be expected.

This foundational belief frees Christians from the false expectation of a pain-free existence. Instead of being shocked or embittered by suffering, we are prepared to see it as part of the human condition. And more importantly, we can view suffering as a divine opportunity.

God’s Miraculous Redemption Through Suffering

Christianity offers a further radical perspective on suffering: God uses suffering as an opportunity for redemption in a non-zero-sum way. This is where game theory provides a surprisingly fitting analogy. In the game of life, our trials are not merely negative experiences. They can lead to profound spiritual benefits for both the sufferer and even, remarkably, the one who causes suffering.

Let’s break this down. Suffering can come from accidents—things outside of human control—or from the deliberate or indirect harm caused by others. When we experience accidental suffering, like illness or natural disasters, it’s easy to feel powerless. But even here, God’s grace can turn loss into gain. The Holy Spirit empowers us, supernaturally strengthening our character, patience, and hope. In true non-zero-sum fashion, God’s grace tips the scales in our favor, transforming pain into growth.

More challenging to understand, yet equally powerful, is how God redeems the suffering caused by human sin. Here’s the insight many overlook: God loves both the victim AND the perpetrator. This love doesn’t minimize the pain inflicted, but it does mean that God desires the repentance and redemption of the one who caused the harm. The season of suffering that the victim endures is simultaneously a season and a journey toward repentance for the perpetrator. God works miracles of grace in the life of the one who suffers in such cases.

What a difference it makes in the life of the believer to view a season of suffering that was caused by the harmful actions of another person as an opportunity to partner with God while He calls the one who caused suffering to repentance. This is not to say that suffering is ever easy or desired. But it does mean that God is always at work, orchestrating redemption in ways we cannot fully grasp. Suffering becomes a means by which God builds strength and grace into our lives while also using that time to bring about repentance and change in the hearts of those who have caused pain.

The Supernatural Work of Grace

This perspective is transformative! The endurance, character, and hope produced through suffering are not human achievements. They do not come about because the sufferer has noble character. Instead, that character development is a direct result of the power of the Holy Spirit. They are gifts of grace given by a God who sees the bigger picture. The Holy Spirit fills our hearts with love and empowers us to endure. As Paul says, our hope does not disappoint because it is grounded in God’s unchanging love.

When you see suffering through this lens, you realize it’s not just about surviving the storm. It’s about emerging from the storm with something gained, not lost. It’s about experiencing the miraculous grace of God that transforms pain into a process with purpose.

A Hope That Defies Disappointment

As John von Neumann discovered, the world is more complex than simple gains and losses. Similarly, the Christian life defies the zero-sum logic of a world that views suffering as only a negative. Our faith invites us to see suffering as part of a divine non-zero-sum game, where God’s grace ensures that trials lead to growth and redemption.

The hope we have in Christ is not naive or wishful thinking. It is a hope rooted in the unchanging love of God and the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. And because of this hope, we can find joy—even in the midst of trials.