Why Does God Allow Suffering? WAD Summit Tackles Age-Old Question As Scholar Reaffirms Divine Goodness

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One of humanity’s oldest and most difficult questions took centre stage at the West-Central Africa Division (WAD) Bible Conference and Leadership Summit held at Babcock University, Ogun State, as renowned theologian, Dr. Frank Hansel, declared that God’s goodness remains unshaken despite the suffering in the world.

Addressing more than 3,000 delegates from 22 countries, Dr. Hansel, a representative of the General Conference Biblical Research Institute, United States, examined the theme, “The Problem of Suffering,” during the summit theme, “Grounded in the Bible, Focused on the Mission.”

The scholar admitted that the question of why a good and all-powerful God permits suffering remains one of the greatest challenges confronting people of faith.

“This is one of the most difficult questions to answer. People always ask how a perfectly good God can exist amidst the pain and suffering in this world,” he said.

According to him, the challenge stems from humanity’s limited understanding of divine realities, noting that some experiences, such as love, cannot be fully explained to those who have never encountered them.

Dr. Hansel identified three common responses often advanced to explain suffering, which he described as inadequate.

These include denying God’s goodness or power, arguing that evil is necessary to reveal God’s goodness, or suggesting that God is only good under certain circumstances.

He, however, maintained that the Scriptures provide a clearer answer.

“The biblical response is very clear that God is good, and that gives us hope because His goodness endures forever,” he said.

The theologian stressed that suffering is not merely an abstract theological debate but a reality affecting millions of people, making it imperative that answers be rooted in biblical truth rather than human speculation.

“The Bible does not minimize pain, but it affirms that God’s character is not in question because of our pain,” he added.

In a statement by Josephine Akarue, the Deputy Director, Department of Communication, Media and Branding, Babcock University, Dr. Hansel explained that evil entered the world through humanity’s misuse of free will, insisting that genuine love cannot exist without freedom of choice.

He further pointed to the biblical concept of the great controversy between good and evil, assuring participants that suffering is temporary and will ultimately be eradicated by God.

The scholar also challenged long-held misconceptions about the immortality of the soul, arguing that a loving and just God would not create human beings for endless suffering.

According to him, the Scriptures offer believers the assurance that evil and pain will one day come to an end.

The session formed a major highlight of the WAD Bible Conference and Leadership Summit, which seeks to deepen biblical understanding among pastors, scholars and church leaders across the region while strengthening their commitment to global mission.

The conference, hosted by Babcock University, continues to provide a platform for addressing contemporary issues of faith through the lens of Scripture, with delegates reaffirming their resolve to remain grounded in biblical teachings amid the challenges of the modern world.