tribulations

Tribulations are periods or events characterized by intense trouble, distress, or suffering. In ordinary usage, the phrase “trials and tribulations” refers to the multiple difficulties that a person faces over time, from personal setbacks to broader hardships.

The term derives from Latin tribulationem, meaning distress or trouble, and entered English in the early modern period. It is most commonly used in plural form to emphasize cumulative or ongoing hardship.

In religious contexts, especially within Christian traditions, the Tribulation or Great Tribulation denotes a future interval of universal distress preceding the end of the world and the Second Coming. The concept appears in apocalyptic literature and can influence moral and eschatological beliefs for some groups. Outside religious usage, tribulations may simply describe the tests a person endures, and they are often portrayed in literature and film as challenges that reveal character or prompt transformation.

Psychologically, enduring tribulations can affect coping strategies, social support networks, and resilience. While hardships are generally unwelcome, they can contribute to personal growth, communal bonding, or policy and social change when communities respond collectively.

See also: trials; suffering; hardship; adversity.