Finding Peace in the Midst of Tribulation and Suffering
The concept of finding peace in the midst of tribulation and suffering is a complex and contested topic across various Christian traditions. The Bible acknowledges the reality of tribulation, with Jesus himself stating, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!" [1]. This tension between experiencing tribulation and finding peace is addressed differently by various Christian traditions.
One position, represented by the Eastern Orthodox tradition, emphasizes the importance of enduring suffering with patience and perseverance. John Chrysostom, an early Church Father, notes that Christ's statement "In the world ye shall have tribulation" serves as a reminder to believers that they will face hardships, but they should not be weary or faint in their minds [6]. This tradition encourages believers to focus on the sufferings of Christ and to find comfort in their own sufferings through their identification with Him.
In contrast, the Reformed tradition, as represented by Charles Hodge, emphasizes the role of faith in finding peace amidst tribulation. According to Hodge, faith is not a mere intellectual assent but a living trust in the person and work of Christ, which enables believers to endure suffering with confidence in God's sovereignty and goodness [4].
The Catholic tradition, as represented by Thomas Aquinas, suggests that the contemplation of truth, particularly divine truth, can assuage pain and sorrow. Aquinas argues that the pleasure derived from contemplating truth can mitigate suffering, and the more one loves wisdom, the more this is the case [7].
The Patristic tradition, as seen in Augustine's writings, also offers insight into this issue. Augustine interprets the Psalmist's cry of "tribulation and grief" as a call to prayer and a recognition of one's need for God. He sees tribulation as a catalyst for calling upon God and ultimately glorifying Him [5].
Despite these differing perspectives, all positions agree that tribulation is a reality that believers will face. They also concur that faith, trust, and the contemplation of divine truth are essential in finding peace amidst suffering. The biblical basis for these views is rooted in passages such as John 16:33, Job 16:6, and Psalms 114:3 [1, 2, 3].
The divergence in traditions stems from their hermeneutical commitments and prior doctrinal premises. For instance, the Reformed tradition's emphasis on faith as a means of enduring tribulation is rooted in their understanding of soteriology, while the Catholic tradition's focus on the contemplation of truth reflects their emphasis on the role of reason in faith.
Sources
- John “John 16:33 (BSB) — I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!””
- Job “Job 16:6 (LITV) — If I speak, my pain is not held back; and though I forbear, what ease do I get?”
- Psalms “Circumdederunt me dolores mortis ; et pericula inferni invenerunt me. Tribulationem et dolorem inveni, -- Psalms 114:3”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 144: 1:23 2:8 2:9 2:22 2:24 2:24 2:24 3:18-19 3:19 3:21 3:22 5:10 2 Peter 1:3 1:3 1:10 1 John 1:1-3 1:1-3 1:7 1:8 1:10 2:1 2:1 2:2 2:2 2:2 2:20 2:20 2:27 3:4 3:16 3:17 3:24 4:9 4:10 4:10 4:10 5:1 5:1-18 5:10 5:12 5:19 Jude 1:4 Revelation 1:5 2:7 5:9 6:9 12:9 13:8 16:10-11 17:14 20:2 20:4 22:2 22:14 22:17 Wisdom of Solomon 2:24 2 Maccabees 7:9”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM L.[10] (part 21): come to thee: because perchance if thou wast not troubled, thou wouldest not call on Me: but when thou art troubled, thou callest on Me; when thou callest upon Me, I will draw thee forth; when I shah draw thee forth, thou shalt glorify Me, that thou mayest no more depart from Me. A certain man had grown dull and cold in fervour of prayer, and said, "Tribulation and grief I found, and on the Name of the Lord I called."[1] He found tribulation as it were some profitable thing; he had rotted in the slough of his sins; now he ”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: 2 Cor. xii. 8–10 .) “Wherefore,” he says, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Moreover, hear Christ Himself saying, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” ( John xvi. 33 .) [6.] Ver. 3 . “For consider,” saith he, “Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” For if the sufferings of those near us arouse us, what earnestness will not those of our Master give us! What w”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part of the Second Part (Prima Secundae), Of the Remedies of Sorrow or Pain, Art. 4: Article: Whether pain and sorrow are assuaged by the contemplation of truth? I answer that, As stated above (Question [3], Article [5]), the greatest of all pleasures consists in the contemplation of truth. Now every pleasure assuages pain as stated above (Article [1]): hence the contemplation of truth assuages pain or sorrow, and the more so, the more perfectly one is a lover of wisdom. And therefore in the midst of tribulations men rejoice in the contemplation of Divine thing”