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When Heaven Is Silent: How God Ministers to Us Through the Challenges of Life
The author of Don't Just Stand There, Pray Something takes a look at five tough areas in life that God uses to help Christians silence, suffering, darkness, disappointment, and harsh circumstances. A simple but powerful book that helps readers develop the faith to see these trials as blessings, rather than curses, ministered by God.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Ronald Dunn
29 books16 followersBefore his death June 29, 2001, at the age of 64, due to Pulmonary Fibrosis, Ronald Dunn had an extensive itinerate ministry of Bible teaching and preaching and served as the Minister-at-Large for the MacArthur Blvd. Baptist Church in Irving. He was also the president of LifeStyle Ministries, an organization that produces Bible study cassettes, which he founded in 1970. He preached Bible Conferences all over the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, Central America, South Africa and the Caribbean Islands.
A graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, Ron was saved at the age of nine, began preaching at the age of fifteen and pastored his first church at the age of seventeen. After completing his Masters of Divinity at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary he pastored the Valley View Baptist Church and Munger Place Baptist Church of Dallas. In 1966, he became the pastor of the MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church in Irving, TX.
During his time as pastor there, the church doubled in size and began a unique 24-hour Intercessroy Prayer Ministry. This Prayer Ministry has become the model for similar ministries in churches and Christian organizations around the country. In 1975, Ron resigned to fully devote his time to an itinerate ministry of bible teaching and writing.
Ron Dunn is the author of ANY CHRISTIAN CAN (Masters Press), THE FAITH CRISIS (Tyndale House), VICTORY (Tyndale House), DON'T JUST STAND THERE-PRAY SOMETHING (Thomas Nelson ), WILL GOD HEAL ME? (Multnomah and Kingsway, UK) and FRIENDLY FIRE (Thomas Nelson and Kingsway, UK). In 1993, the British edition of DON'T JUST STAND THERE-PRAY SOMETHING was on the UK Christian Bestsellers list for a year and a half, outselling every other Christian book in the UK.
His wife, Kaye, is the President of LifeStyle Ministries and lives in Flower Mound, Texas. They have two children, Stephen and Kimberly. Their first child, Ronald Jr., died in 1975 at the age of 18.
Chronological Biography of the Life of Ron Dunn
Ron Dun was born October 24, 1936, in Poteau, OK, to Eunice and Cecil Dunn He had one brother, Barry Dunn, of Nashville, TN, and grew up mostly in Fort Smith, AR.
Ron was baptized at the age of 9, in Fort Smith, AR, at Southside Baptist Church. A short time later his family joined First Baptist Church, Fort Smith, AR, where Dr. J. Harold Smith was the pastor and had a great influence on his life and ministry.
He surrendered to the ministry in 1952 at the age of 15 at a Baptist encampment while Dr. Carl Bates was preaching. Ron began preaching at the city jail in Fort Smith at the age of 15 through the ministry of First Baptist Church; he also began preaching in weekend revivals in small rural churches as a team of young people would go out on the weekends.
Ron preached his first extended revival in 1953 at First Baptist Church of Bow Legs, OK, where Jake Self, one of his prayer mentors, was pastor. A young man named Johnny Bisagno led the music. Ron got sick the second week of the meeting and gave Johnny his first opportunity to preach.
He was ordained to the ministry at First Baptist Church by Dr. J. Harold Smith on December 29, 1954. One of the most important things the pastor said that night was, "God has not called you to be the next Billy Graham; he has called you to be Ronnie Dunn." Ron said that was the most disappointing thing he had ever heard, but it was the best thing he could have possibly been told. His mother reinforced that thought through the years, as well as Kaye.
Ron met Rita Kaye Mitchell in February 1955 and they married at her home in Little Rock, AR, on December 21, 1956. Just 8 days shy of her 17th birthday, Kaye left Central High School in Little Rock and transferred to the high school in Shawnee, OK, where she completed her high school degree and began attending Oklahoma Baptist University where Ron was a student.
He became the weekend pastor of a rural church, Panola Baptist Church, in Pa
A graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, Ron was saved at the age of nine, began preaching at the age of fifteen and pastored his first church at the age of seventeen. After completing his Masters of Divinity at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary he pastored the Valley View Baptist Church and Munger Place Baptist Church of Dallas. In 1966, he became the pastor of the MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church in Irving, TX.
During his time as pastor there, the church doubled in size and began a unique 24-hour Intercessroy Prayer Ministry. This Prayer Ministry has become the model for similar ministries in churches and Christian organizations around the country. In 1975, Ron resigned to fully devote his time to an itinerate ministry of bible teaching and writing.
Ron Dunn is the author of ANY CHRISTIAN CAN (Masters Press), THE FAITH CRISIS (Tyndale House), VICTORY (Tyndale House), DON'T JUST STAND THERE-PRAY SOMETHING (Thomas Nelson ), WILL GOD HEAL ME? (Multnomah and Kingsway, UK) and FRIENDLY FIRE (Thomas Nelson and Kingsway, UK). In 1993, the British edition of DON'T JUST STAND THERE-PRAY SOMETHING was on the UK Christian Bestsellers list for a year and a half, outselling every other Christian book in the UK.
His wife, Kaye, is the President of LifeStyle Ministries and lives in Flower Mound, Texas. They have two children, Stephen and Kimberly. Their first child, Ronald Jr., died in 1975 at the age of 18.
Chronological Biography of the Life of Ron Dunn
Ron Dun was born October 24, 1936, in Poteau, OK, to Eunice and Cecil Dunn He had one brother, Barry Dunn, of Nashville, TN, and grew up mostly in Fort Smith, AR.
Ron was baptized at the age of 9, in Fort Smith, AR, at Southside Baptist Church. A short time later his family joined First Baptist Church, Fort Smith, AR, where Dr. J. Harold Smith was the pastor and had a great influence on his life and ministry.
He surrendered to the ministry in 1952 at the age of 15 at a Baptist encampment while Dr. Carl Bates was preaching. Ron began preaching at the city jail in Fort Smith at the age of 15 through the ministry of First Baptist Church; he also began preaching in weekend revivals in small rural churches as a team of young people would go out on the weekends.
Ron preached his first extended revival in 1953 at First Baptist Church of Bow Legs, OK, where Jake Self, one of his prayer mentors, was pastor. A young man named Johnny Bisagno led the music. Ron got sick the second week of the meeting and gave Johnny his first opportunity to preach.
He was ordained to the ministry at First Baptist Church by Dr. J. Harold Smith on December 29, 1954. One of the most important things the pastor said that night was, "God has not called you to be the next Billy Graham; he has called you to be Ronnie Dunn." Ron said that was the most disappointing thing he had ever heard, but it was the best thing he could have possibly been told. His mother reinforced that thought through the years, as well as Kaye.
Ron met Rita Kaye Mitchell in February 1955 and they married at her home in Little Rock, AR, on December 21, 1956. Just 8 days shy of her 17th birthday, Kaye left Central High School in Little Rock and transferred to the high school in Shawnee, OK, where she completed her high school degree and began attending Oklahoma Baptist University where Ron was a student.
He became the weekend pastor of a rural church, Panola Baptist Church, in Pa
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 17, 2013
I checked this book out of the library on the advice of a friend, and found it lived up to its reputation. It isn't a theological analysis of the problem of evil, although it includes solid theological content. Dunn's book aims to encourage people facing challenging & discouraging circumstances in life. And he delivers through personal stories, and a fresh look at numerous Biblical passages (Jacob wrestling with an angel, job, David not being allowed to build the Temple, Joseph, among others). Dunn rightly focuses our struggles on God and His character.
Some interesting quotes:
Our toughest battles are with God, not the devil. I'm not denying the reality of spiritual warfare with satanic powers. I am only saying that I find it easier to say no to the devil that to say yes to God.
The despair of the sufferer is not caused by the depth of the suffering but by the depth of his sense of separation from God.
The theme of the book of Job...is not, "Why do the righteous suffer?", it is "Why do the righteous serve God?"
...there is one thing both God and Satan agree on: Faith that depends upon prosperity is not genuine. Satan's challenge [regarding Job] is legitimate.
Some interesting quotes:
Our toughest battles are with God, not the devil. I'm not denying the reality of spiritual warfare with satanic powers. I am only saying that I find it easier to say no to the devil that to say yes to God.
The despair of the sufferer is not caused by the depth of the suffering but by the depth of his sense of separation from God.
The theme of the book of Job...is not, "Why do the righteous suffer?", it is "Why do the righteous serve God?"
...there is one thing both God and Satan agree on: Faith that depends upon prosperity is not genuine. Satan's challenge [regarding Job] is legitimate.
November 22, 2022
Fy hoff lyfr am ffydd erioed. Yn ei ail-ddarllen. Daeth i mi yn rhodd gan athrawes ganu mrawd yn 2001, yr union adeg iawn. Mae'n dal yr un mor amserol.
May 28, 2025
This is a straight talking, straight forward book that simply discusses what the title says, ‘When Heaven is Silent’.
Based on the author’s own horrendous life experience, he skilfully weaves in Biblical stories like Jacob, Job and Joseph along with many other Biblical wisdom passages.
He demonstrates that life and God are mysteries. We can’t always explain things. We can’t always know ‘the why’ and he reminds us that life isn’t a rehearsal for the real thing. This IS our life, the good and bad experiences like the Wheat and the Weeds growing together.
The author slams the prosperity gospel: ‘live well and God gives you a good life’. He says this type of faith is false. He says there are seasons for our faith and winter is included in this. The storms of the heart have a voice too. There are 24 hours in the day and many of these hours are dark, not light.
He also acknowledges that our dreams are not always fulfilled or materialise. He states how well we do to champion good things in our heart and based on Romans 8:28, God uses (not necessarily causes) all things to work together for good.
We are after all the block of marble in the sculptors hands. He will keep chipping away at everything that doesn’t look like Christ.
Based on the author’s own horrendous life experience, he skilfully weaves in Biblical stories like Jacob, Job and Joseph along with many other Biblical wisdom passages.
He demonstrates that life and God are mysteries. We can’t always explain things. We can’t always know ‘the why’ and he reminds us that life isn’t a rehearsal for the real thing. This IS our life, the good and bad experiences like the Wheat and the Weeds growing together.
The author slams the prosperity gospel: ‘live well and God gives you a good life’. He says this type of faith is false. He says there are seasons for our faith and winter is included in this. The storms of the heart have a voice too. There are 24 hours in the day and many of these hours are dark, not light.
He also acknowledges that our dreams are not always fulfilled or materialise. He states how well we do to champion good things in our heart and based on Romans 8:28, God uses (not necessarily causes) all things to work together for good.
We are after all the block of marble in the sculptors hands. He will keep chipping away at everything that doesn’t look like Christ.
September 1, 2021
This book has been on my shelf for a while. I wish I’d read it much sooner. The author seeks to encourage Christians in the middle of suffering and darkness. It certainly was an encouraging read as it focussed on God’s character and how He works. Many anecdotes were taken from Dunn’s own life which added a sense of authenticity to the book. Really easy to read. Very good.
May 3, 2017
This is such a powerful book because of the author’s vulnerability and honesty. It’s one that I’ve returned to on a number of occasions and I think I always will. Ron Dunn was a church leader and popular conference speaker and here he speaks of his own experience of deep depression following the suicide of his son and the questions that it left him with. I think that every Christian should read this book. The Bible never promises that we won’t face difficulties and challenges quite the opposite in fact but that can leave us with questions as to the goodness of God, especially at the times when as the title says Heaven is silent.
It's not a book that patronises with easy answers the easy answers don’t exist and those that try to provide them don’t really help anyone. Basing what he says on the Biblical accounts of Job, Jacob when he wrestled an angel, the man born blind that Jesus healed as well as other passages and his own personal experience, he shows that while some questions may go unanswered God is still a God who deeply cares. He encourages to when we are tempted to ask the question “Why?” to then ask “What next?” How can we respond to the things that have some our way?
While some of the subject matter may be a bit hard going Dunn himself is so readable. Despite describing the darkness he often faced he uses humour and he’s so relatable. This is a book that needs reading through to the end. You won’t get the full picture if you don’t.
It’s an invaluable book for Christians who face their own times of darkness and a reminder that the darkness doesn’t mean that God has left us or forgotten about us. What makes this so powerful is that the writer isn’t just repeating platitudes, he’s writing from personal experience, he is raw with an honesty that demands you listen to what he says.
An invaluable read.
It's not a book that patronises with easy answers the easy answers don’t exist and those that try to provide them don’t really help anyone. Basing what he says on the Biblical accounts of Job, Jacob when he wrestled an angel, the man born blind that Jesus healed as well as other passages and his own personal experience, he shows that while some questions may go unanswered God is still a God who deeply cares. He encourages to when we are tempted to ask the question “Why?” to then ask “What next?” How can we respond to the things that have some our way?
While some of the subject matter may be a bit hard going Dunn himself is so readable. Despite describing the darkness he often faced he uses humour and he’s so relatable. This is a book that needs reading through to the end. You won’t get the full picture if you don’t.
It’s an invaluable book for Christians who face their own times of darkness and a reminder that the darkness doesn’t mean that God has left us or forgotten about us. What makes this so powerful is that the writer isn’t just repeating platitudes, he’s writing from personal experience, he is raw with an honesty that demands you listen to what he says.
An invaluable read.
January 11, 2012
Ron Dunn has always been a favorite of mine when it comes to preaching. While I'd always been inspired by his preaching, I had never read anything he had written. I had been wanting to find this book to read when it literally was just dropped into my hands at a grief support meeting.
Ron and his wife lost a son to suicide. He addresses what it is like to walk through the days, months, and years after such a tragedy. He also speaks of his abiding faith in the sovereignty of God throughout it all. The back cover of the book sums up much of the message of the book with one sentence from the book. "And so I say that faith is not necessarily the power to make things the way we want them to be; it is the courage to face things as they are."
He affirms his belief that there is such a thing as redemptive suffering, "redemptive because God causes it to fit into His purpose."
I loved his epilogue because it illustrates Ron Dunn's humor so well. He says, "I may be Dunn, but I'm not finished." No matter what he has gone through, loss, trials with his other bi-polar children, his own deep depression, he continually affirms where his confidence comes from. He is honest about his struggles, but he never doubts God.
Ron and his wife lost a son to suicide. He addresses what it is like to walk through the days, months, and years after such a tragedy. He also speaks of his abiding faith in the sovereignty of God throughout it all. The back cover of the book sums up much of the message of the book with one sentence from the book. "And so I say that faith is not necessarily the power to make things the way we want them to be; it is the courage to face things as they are."
He affirms his belief that there is such a thing as redemptive suffering, "redemptive because God causes it to fit into His purpose."
I loved his epilogue because it illustrates Ron Dunn's humor so well. He says, "I may be Dunn, but I'm not finished." No matter what he has gone through, loss, trials with his other bi-polar children, his own deep depression, he continually affirms where his confidence comes from. He is honest about his struggles, but he never doubts God.
May 6, 2013
One of the first things you will come to realize is that Ron Dunn is real. There is no pretentions in this book. One of tge shortcomings in alot of churches is the failure to deal with darkness. Depression is real. Bad things do happen to good people, even Christians and Dunn adresses the issue of tragedy and depression in this book. He's uniquely qualified because his son commited suicide. This is a brutally honest and apt book about depression. What you get here is frank and helpful and rings true but its very unlikely you will hear it anywhere else. That's why I gave it five stars. From a Christian perspective this is the definitive book on darkness.
January 26, 2014
This pastor's raw and real emotions and discoveries come through in this book written years after losing his son to suicide. You won't find pat answers here but real wrestling with God and compassion.
January 5, 2013
A friend sent this to me after my father died. Great words of encouragement and comfort.
July 31, 2015
An oldie but goodie...Ron Dunn wrote from experience. His timeless timeless iinsights provide such encouragement.
February 5, 2026
I recently picked up When Heaven Is Silent: How God Ministers to Us Through the Challenges of Life by Ronald Dunn, and it really struck a chord with me. This book resonates with anyone who's felt that painful silence from God during tough times. Dunn writes with such warmth, making it feel like you're having a deep, heartfelt conversation with a friend who truly understands your struggles.
One of the things that hit me hard was when he states, “When God is silent, it is not because He has taken a vacation.” That idea made me pause. I realised there have been many moments in my life when I felt completely abandoned, questioning everything. Viewing those silent times as opportunities for growth rather than just emptiness was a game changer for me.
Dunn also emphasises how crucial community is when he observes, “God uses people to bear us up.” This really resonated with my experience. I’ve often tried to deal with my burdens alone, thinking I needed to be strong. But he reminds us that reaching out for support can deepen our connection with both God and others. That’s such a powerful perspective that made me rethink my approach to sharing my struggles.
Another unique reflection was about the patience we need to cultivate during waiting periods in our lives. Dunn encourages us to see those uncomfortable pauses as times for deeper reflection, saying, “Sometimes the silence of God is His most potent answer.” I found that idea liberating; it shifted my perspective and helped me recognise that I can find meaning even in silence.
Reading this book felt like unveiling deeper truths about my own struggles. Dunn helped me see that suffering often carries the potential for transformation and growth.
In the end, When Heaven Is Silent beautifully navigates the complexities of dealing with divine silence. Ronald Dunn combines personal stories with biblical insights in a relatable way. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking hope and purpose in their struggles; it might just lead you to discover the symphony that often plays beneath the silence.
One of the things that hit me hard was when he states, “When God is silent, it is not because He has taken a vacation.” That idea made me pause. I realised there have been many moments in my life when I felt completely abandoned, questioning everything. Viewing those silent times as opportunities for growth rather than just emptiness was a game changer for me.
Dunn also emphasises how crucial community is when he observes, “God uses people to bear us up.” This really resonated with my experience. I’ve often tried to deal with my burdens alone, thinking I needed to be strong. But he reminds us that reaching out for support can deepen our connection with both God and others. That’s such a powerful perspective that made me rethink my approach to sharing my struggles.
Another unique reflection was about the patience we need to cultivate during waiting periods in our lives. Dunn encourages us to see those uncomfortable pauses as times for deeper reflection, saying, “Sometimes the silence of God is His most potent answer.” I found that idea liberating; it shifted my perspective and helped me recognise that I can find meaning even in silence.
Reading this book felt like unveiling deeper truths about my own struggles. Dunn helped me see that suffering often carries the potential for transformation and growth.
In the end, When Heaven Is Silent beautifully navigates the complexities of dealing with divine silence. Ronald Dunn combines personal stories with biblical insights in a relatable way. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking hope and purpose in their struggles; it might just lead you to discover the symphony that often plays beneath the silence.
March 10, 2022
This was a strong work, which brings some good material (pulled from real life) to this often written about subject. Some of Dunn's better insights are his idea of how good and bad are parallel tracks to the same events. And his chapter on "Why?" and "Why Me?" were particularly strong, showing carefully from scripture how God is very often not interested in the question why and sometimes doesn't answer the question at all, but how we as people seemed to have an unquenchable desire to know why. But Dunn clearly shows that God is far more interested and far more inclined to answer the question "What now?" But overall the book's strength is in the fact that these are nuggets (nuggets for the book is short and chopped into tiny chapters) of truth which have come out of Dunn's own struggling with these questions. This book was obvious more of a catharsis experience for him as he studied (with the real drive of acute pain) for the answers to his own epic tragedies in his life.
April 30, 2019
In stiinta, intrebarea: de ce? starneste materia cenusie si asa apar solutiile.
Din punct de vedere spiritual intrebarea pare sa duca la racirea relatiei cu Dumnezeu, nu ne ajuta si nu ne ofera raspunsuri satisfacatoare, asta daca primim vreunul. In relatia cu Dumnezeu de ce-ul mai mult ne distruge si probabil ca ar trebui sa-l lasam pentru alte vremuri. Intrebarea mai buna e: ce putem face acuma? Privim spre viitor sau ne cramponam in trecut ?
Din punct de vedere spiritual intrebarea pare sa duca la racirea relatiei cu Dumnezeu, nu ne ajuta si nu ne ofera raspunsuri satisfacatoare, asta daca primim vreunul. In relatia cu Dumnezeu de ce-ul mai mult ne distruge si probabil ca ar trebui sa-l lasam pentru alte vremuri. Intrebarea mai buna e: ce putem face acuma? Privim spre viitor sau ne cramponam in trecut ?
March 6, 2022
Inspiring and wonderful
I liked this book because is so real. It made me look at God and troubles with different eyes. It is a blessing and I couldn’t put it down.
Read it and grow with it!
I liked this book because is so real. It made me look at God and troubles with different eyes. It is a blessing and I couldn’t put it down.
Read it and grow with it!
Want to Read
December 28, 2019I have been to several bookshops Looking for this particular book but could not find it. Is there a way I can get this book in Nigeria?
August 19, 2020
Very touched. A growth in understanding and a clarification of many things.
October 16, 2020
Great book
January 22, 2026
Masterpiece...........
October 20, 2014
I just looove this book!!! Amazing!! I could read it over and over again. And truth to be told: it's one of the books I go to in my hard times. because it makes me change perspective from the valley I am walking to the whole image. kinda zoom out and forces me to see the Sovereign God I am serving.
February 21, 2014
This is the second time I've begun to read this book - the first being unsuccessful. Good book, lots of wisdom but tough going - maybe too tough going to face if you're struggling. Much easier to read when I'm not struggling, yet still wisdom taken away for the future!
March 28, 2011
Small, but meaty. Dunn explains things in a way that actually made me stop reading and think about it.
July 12, 2012
O recomand celor care se confrunta cu "de ce"-ul suferintei.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews