Living Joyously (Part 1 of 2)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Focus on the Family with Jim Daly

Episode: Living Joyously (Part 1 of 2)

Guest: David Ring
Date: April 14, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode features the compelling testimony and life lessons of David Ring, an evangelist born with cerebral palsy. Through honest storytelling and humor, Ring shares how he overcame deep suffering, loneliness, and loss to find true joy in Christ. Speaking at Moody Bible Institute’s Founders Week, he challenges listeners to live joyously regardless of their circumstances, emphasizing God's transformative power and unconditional love.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Struggle with Circumstances and Mindset

• Focusing on Circumstances Brings Discouragement

  • David opens by asking, “Do you ever get down in the dumps? … Why do we get down in the dumps? Because we have our eyes on our circumstance. Every time you have your eyes on your circumstance, you are going to get down in the dumps.” (02:10)
  • He humorously addresses the tendency to dwell on difficulties and compares it to sharing “lemons” at church rather than giving them to God.

• Biblical Challenge to Live Above Circumstances

  • David insists: “I believe with all my heart that God’s people should never get down when they’re in the dumps… you’ve been brainwashed … but it’s not in the Word of God.” (03:31)
  • He candidly confesses he doesn’t understand all of life’s pain but holds onto the promise that “God will work together all things for the good of them that love God.” (04:22)

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David Ring’s Personal Story of Loss and Pain

• Early Hardships: Disability, Death, and Loneliness

  • Born with cerebral palsy due to lack of oxygen at birth, David describes the daily struggles of “walking with a limp” and “talk[ing] like I do.” (05:00)
  • He lost his father at age 11 to cancer and was the youngest and “spoiled” child, deeply close to his mother (05:20).
  • The most shattering blow was losing his mother to cancer when he was still a boy: “I saw my precious mom go from 185 pounds to 57 pounds.” (10:30)
  • After his mother’s death, David felt abandoned and hopeless: “I didn’t want to live. I wanted to die. If I couldn’t live with my mama, I did not want to live at all.” (11:00)

• Enduring Bullying and Isolation

  • David recounts the hurtful ridicule he faced at school: “Every time I open my mouth, somebody will point their finger … and call me retarded and every other name.” (14:45)
  • With raw honesty, he talks about longing for affirmation and struggling to believe in God’s love.

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A Road to Redemption: Wrestling with Faith

• Questioning God’s Love and Purpose

  • David asks the hard questions many face: “God, if you love me, why do you take away my daddy? … why do you give me a cripple body? … God, if you love me, where are you when I need you the most?” (16:18)
  • He suggests most people wrestle with doubts: “If I would open up your life today, I will find something way down deep, crying out, ‘God, if you love me, why?’” (18:00)

• His Sister’s Persistent Love

  • The only one not to give up on him was his “stubborn sister,” who pushed him to go to church and refused to abandon him in despair. (15:20)
  • He reflects, “Thank God for a stubborn sister. Amen.” (15:45)

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Transformative Encounter with Christ

• Spiritual Surrender

  • Ring describes his conversion: “One night I went to church just to get my sister off my back … Something happened in my life that changed my life forever. The Lord Jesus spoke up and came to me and knocked at my heart.” (19:13)

• Moment of Salvation

  • With palpable emotion: “April 17, 1970 at 8:45pm I became a somebody because Jesus came into my life. … For the first time in my life, I feel like God loves me just the way I am.” (20:25)

• Resulting Joy and Identity

  • He proclaims: “God took away my loneliness, gave me happiness. I’m not lonely anymore. I’m happy. … God took away my mental soul and gave me joy unspeakable and full of glory.” (21:18)
  • Though physical struggles remained, “I still walk with a limp. I still talk funny. But oh, the joy that floods my soul because Jesus touched me and made me whole.” (21:50)

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Life Applications & Challenges to Listeners

• Joy in the Midst of Struggle

  • David challenges listeners to stop dwelling on what’s wrong and find joy in Christ regardless of adversity.
  • “It’s not what we are on the outside. It’s everything we are on the inside.” (23:37)

• Memorable Closing Thoughts

  • “I don’t want to die. I want to live because I’ve got something worth living for.” (22:30)
  • His testimony models not only faith but a call to embrace life despite pain.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On disability and God’s power:

  • “What’s wrong with cerebral palsy? They tell me it’s a handicap. It’s a disability. Baloney. I rather be like I am … than a healthy man that don’t know the power of God.” – David Ring (00:41)

• On suffering and God’s love:

  • “If you love God, God is on your side. God is not against you. … For my own life, that God is for us. God love us.” – David Ring (04:58)

• On family loss:

  • “God, please don’t take my mama. … God took my mama, the only one that loved me the way I am.” – David Ring (10:50)

• On compassion in adversity:

  • “Thank God for a stubborn sister. Amen.” – David Ring (15:45)

• On salvation:

  • “April 17, 1970, at 8:45pm I became a somebody because Jesus came into my life.” – David Ring (20:25)

• On finding identity in Christ:

  • “I still walk with a limp. I still talk funny. But oh, the joy that floods my soul because Jesus touched me and made me whole.” – David Ring (21:50)

• On true joy:

  • “It’s not what we are on the outside. It’s everything we are on the inside.” – David Ring (23:37)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:41 – David Ring’s opening remarks on living with cerebral palsy
• 02:10 – 04:22 – The problem with focusing on circumstances; “lemons” analogy
• 05:00 – 12:00 – Personal story: birth, father’s death, and mother’s illness and passing
• 14:45 – 16:18 – School bullying, feelings of rejection
• 18:00 – 19:13 – Wrestling with God; universal cry of “why?”
• 19:13 – 20:25 – Attending church, moment of conversion
• 21:18 – 22:30 – Joy after salvation; identity in Christ
• 23:37 – Closing challenge: value is found inside, not outside

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Tone and Language

David’s tone is raw, humorous, deeply honest, and filled with vibrant faith. He doesn’t shy away from describing pain or struggle but is always quick to point listeners to God’s sustaining love and the reality of joy that transcends outward circumstances.

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Conclusion

David Ring’s story demonstrates that true joy and worth are not found in external circumstances but in knowing Christ. This episode equips listeners to move beyond self-pity and face adversity with hope grounded in God's love and redemptive power. His testimony serves as a living proof that life, no matter how marred by hardship, can be lived joyously when entrusted to God.

Don’t miss Part 2, where David shares how God continued to transform his life through marriage and ministry.

Transcript

[Focus on the Family Announcer]

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[John Fuller]

today on Focus on the Family with Jim Dailey. Our guest is David Ring and he shares his unique perspective about living with cerebral palsy.

[David Ring]

What's wrong with cerebral palsy? They tell me it's a handicap. It's a disability. Baloney. I rather be like I am inundated to a healthy man that don't know the power of God. Well, you're going to be hearing more

[John Fuller]

of that passion and I hope you're inspired to live your life more fully regardless of your circumstances through what David is sharing. Thanks for joining us. I'm John Fuller.

[Jim Daly]

John we're returning to one of the most popular broadcasts of all time here at FOCUS on the Family. And every time I hear this message, I'm inspired once again to make the most of what God has given me and also to love and accept those around me. David is a great example of the fact that every life is precious because we're all made in the image of God. And I think you'll be amazed when you hear how the Lord has worked in David's life.

[John Fuller]

Yeah, it's really a powerful message. And what should be apparent is that David's speech has been deeply affected by cerebral palsy. So he's a bit difficult to understand at first. But lean in and it'll take just a short while for you to really get pulled into his message. Here now is David Ring speaking at Moody Bible Institute's Founders Week a number of years ago on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly.

[David Ring]

Let me ask you something. Do you ever get down in the dumps? Do you? Why everybody do feels good. Do it, man. Come to my house. Let's all get down when the dump's together. But why do we get down when the dump? Because we have our eyes on odd circumstance. We have our eyes on odd circumstance. Every time you with your eyes on your circumstance, you are going to get down in the dumps. But I come to you today to share with you that God can make lemonade out of anybody lemon. Amen. But the problem is we don't want to give God the lemon. Now how can God make lemonade out of our lemon if we don't give God the lemon? You Know why we don't give God the lemon? Because if we give God the lemon, we want having nothing to talk about. Huh? No wonder people don't come to church. Because every time they come to church, they see a bunch of people sharing lemons with each other. Do you want to see my lemon? Oh, I can beat that. My lemon bigger than your lemon. Do you know I'm so afraid to ask people how they doing. Number one, I'm afraid they're gonna tell me. Number two, I don't want to know. How you doing, man? Oh, my bad. Killing me. How you doing, Joe? I don't think I'm gonn. That's pitiful. Every little pain in your body, you go, whoa, it's me. Whoa, it's me. Whoa, it's my v. Whoa, it's my leg. Whoa, it's my back. Whoa, it's my head. Oh, get over it. Amen. I believe with all my heart that God's people should never get down when they're dumb. You say, preacher, I don't believe that. I know you don't believe it. You know why you don't believe it? Because you've been brainwashed. All your life you've been told, everybody do it, it's okay, just shove your feet. It's okay. Just get down when the dumb sand and be yourself. That sounds good, folks, but it's not in the word of God. And I believe with all my heart that God's people should never get down when they're dumb. You say, preacher, you. You don't know where I'm going there. No, I don't. You don't know the storm I'm in? No, I don't. You don't know the valley I'm in? No, I don't. I don't understand how a husband and a wife can live together 40, 50 years and wake up one morning and say we don't love each other. I don't understand that. I don't understand how a man can leave town with another man, wife in the church. I don't understand that. I don't understand how a young couple, a husband and a wife, can pray for a baby and God don't say fit to open the womb. I don't want to. But I know more than the Bible says. God will together all things for the good of them that love God. If you love God, say amen. If you love God, God is on your side. God is not against you. We got the mentality of God. God don't love me. God is against A spy. I'm here to tell you. Not only to tell you, but to show you for my own life, that God is for us. God love us. I have not always failed that way. Though I was born to lose. Born dead. For 18 minutes, the oxygen couldn't get in my brain. That's why I walk with a limp. That's why I talk like I do. Because of cerebral palsy at birth. Story number one. When I was 11 years old, a little boy, my daddy got sick. November 19 and 64. My. My dad died with cancer of the liver. Strike number two. Well, I'm the baby of the family. I'm the baby of eight. And when I came along, they'd spoil me. Wharton. I'm nothing, but I'd spoil Wharton bread. And I love every minute of it. My mama's poem was, my mama gave me everything I wanted. And sometimes she even gave me things I don't want. You know what I mean? But I love my mama. I'm not only the baby of the family, but I'm a number one mama baby boy. You can tell by looking at me I'm a mama boy, because I got that mama baby face. And you make fun of me. I gon punch a lot. Every morning my mom and I get up, we boy home. When we talk, we tell each other we love each other. Number one with loving your mama. Amen. I think everybody named Mama love everybody Mama. Judge, there's something very special about my mama. And I'm not ashamed to tell you. I will be a number one mama baby boy until the day I die. Why I'm beginning. God, I love my mama. One day in my life, though, my mom got sick. The woman I love, the woman I adore, the woman I woke up every morning and called Blessing. She went in the hospital the day before Monday, 1968. Every operation on a simple operation, no big deal. But July, though, two months later, the doctor came to my family and said, you, mama will never come home again. She had cancer. She had six months. At the very, very moments to live, I don't know. Not my mama. My mama came down. My mama shields me. My mama protect me. My mama the only one that loved Judge the way I am. My mama can't die on me, can she? I done the only thing I knew what to do. I got down on my knees every day, every night. Then I'd say, God, please don't take my mama. God, please don't take my mama. God, please don't take my mom. And God, not my mama. The Only thing I have. God don't take my mama, please. But I dopa 1968 God took my mama. The only one that loved me, judged the way I am. And I saw my precious mom go from 185 pounds to 57 pounds. Strike number three. I didn't want to live. I wanted to die. If I couldn't live with my mama, I did not want to live at all. Everywhere I went, somebody would point their finger and said, look, the boy walked funny. Look, the boy came down and talk funny. Look, that boy can't do anything. Look, look, look. I couldn't go home to my mama. And I couldn't say, mama, somebody made fun of me today. She couldn't put her arm around me and make it all better. People look at me. I will lay in there every day, every night with tears rolling down my face, begging to die. Why? Because I was lonely one. Because I was longing to be in my mama arms one more time. I thought if I could, if I only could climb up in my mama lap one more time. If I only climb, I could feel my mama loving arms one more time. Mama would make it better. But those days never came. You remember that song we sung when we were little boy or little girl? Whoa, whoa, whoa boat gently down the stream. Only melonly manly melonly life is but a dream. Only one problem with that. Everybody got to wake up one day. And I woke up. And when I woke up and I felt like nobody loved, I told my family, give up on me. Everybody gave up on me but one sister. She encouraged me. She wanted me to go to school. I didn't want to go to school. I hated school. It's no fun to walk down the hallway and let somebody laugh at the way I walk. And let somebody laugh as the way I talk. It's no fun to walk down to a bus stop every morning. And every time I open my mouth trying to be friendly or I wanted somebody to be friendly or I wanted somebody to love me just the way I am or. Or I wouldn't somebody to put their arm around me and say it's going to be okay. But every time I open my mouth, somebody will point their finger in my finger and call me retarded. And every other name they go with they ear hugs. Folks, I don't want sins to give up me. I'm hopeless, I'm worthless. I thought nobody loved me. I thought God was against me. Just give up on me. She said, no, I'm not gonna give up on you. I don't know what I'm gonna do with you yet, but I'm sure not gonna give up on you. Thank God for a stubborn sister. Amen. She wanted me to go to church. I didn't want to go to church either. I've been brought up in the church. My dad is the preacher. I'm the preacher, kid. I know the lingo. I even know John 3:16. But John 3:16 don't make any sense. It's one thing to stand beyond the pulpit and on Saturday morning and say, for God so loved that he gave the only begotten. Oh, that sounds so good and wonderful, don't it? But it's another thing to wake up every morning with tears rolling down my face and say, God, do you love me? God, if you love me, why do you take away my daddy? God, if you love me, why do you take away my mama? God, if you love me, why do you give me a crib? By the God, if you love me, why are you breaking my heart every time I turn around? God, if you love me, where are you when I need you the most? People look at me, I don't know you. But I know one thing for sure, that most of you, if not all of you, have asked God the same question. Have you? I guarantee you people, if I will open up your life today, I will find something way down deep. Crying out, God, if you love me, why, why, why? We got the mentality of God. God is against us. I've been there, folks, and nobody understand your storm quite like you do. But one night I went to church just to get my sister on my back. And that night I went there, I'd sit down and the preacher got up to preach and I'd say, man, I wish you will shut up. You've been there too, huh? Something happened in my life that changed my life forever. The Lord Jesus spoke up and the Lord came to me and knocked at my heart. He said, david, I'm standing at your heart knocking. If you only listen to me and open the door, I will come in and I will fellowship with you forever and forever. And that night I got up on my seat, came down to an old fashioned altar, got down on my knee, said lord Jesus, here I am. If you really are there, if you really love me coming down. I'm a lonely cripple boy. I'm a nobody. But tonight I want to be a somebody. Hallelujah people. April 17, 1970 at 8:45pm I became a somebody because Jesus came into my life. For the first time. In my life, I feel like God loves me, judged the way I am. God took away my old things and gave me new things. God took away my loneliness, gave me happiness. I'm not lonely anymore. I'm happy. You know why? Because I been to the doctor. Doctor. Jesus. Pretty good doctor to go to. Amen number one. You don't have to wait in a lobby for two hours. God took away mental soul and gave me joy unspeakable and full of glory. Look at me, people look at me. I still walk with a lamp. I still talk fun about all the joy that floods my soul because Jesus touched me and made me whole. I'm not the same anymore. I've been changed by the power of God. I've been touched by the old time religion. And it happened to me over 25 years ago. And you know what? I'm not over yet. I don't. I don't want to die. I want to live one because I got something worth living for. People look at me. It's not what we are on the outside. It's everything we are on the inside.

[John Fuller]

Well, we hate to break in here, but that's where we're going to have to end. This episode of Focus on the Family with Jim Daly. What a terrific presentation from David Ring as he spoke at Moody Bible Institute's Founders Week. And next time we're going to hear how God continued to work in David's life and how he met his wife and started a family.

[Jim Daly]

John, isn't it amazing that the Lord helped David developed into such a powerful speaker in spite of his speech impediment and physical challenges? What a great example of God ability to work through any of us, no matter what our circumstances are. And you know, this program does highlight our core mission here at Focus on the Family, and that is to introduce people to Jesus Christ. I hope you heard that clearly today in David's presentation. And if you've never accepted Christ into your life, I want to pray for you right now. Because you know what? It'll change the rest of your life for the better. Let's pray. Lord Jesus, I want to pray on behalf of those who are bending their knee, maybe not physically, but mentally toward you right now. And we want to pray together, Lord, that we recognize ourselves as sinners, we fall short of your perfection. And yet, Lord, even in that you love us and you care for us like a father loves his children. And Lord, we come to your throne asking for forgiveness and for you to come into our lives as broken people, Lord, to make us who we acknowledge that you, Jesus, are the Son of God. And we thank you for your sacrificial death on the cross to pay for our sins and to give us eternal life. Come into our lives right now and change us into the people you want us to be. And we thank you in Christ's name. Amen.

[John Fuller]

Well, amen. And if you prayed along with Jim right there, stop by our website and look for a free online article we have called Coming Home. It will give you some next steps for your spiritual journey ahead. Of course, look for a local church plug in, find community. These are all things to help you grow in your faith.

[Jim Daly]

And let us know that you prayed that prayer. And let me say well done. Welcome to the family of God.

[John Fuller]

Yeah, we would love to hear your story. Our number is 800, the letter A in the word family. And this reminder, we have David Ring's incredible biography, the Boy Born Dead. Call us if you'd like to get a copy. You'll also find details about how you can get that when you follow the link in the show notes. And when you're online, be sure to look for that free collection of audio downloads called Enduring the Challenges of Life, which includes this riveting message from David Ring. Next time, you'll hear how God has used David to proclaim the gospel around

[David Ring]

the world every hour in my mama room. God ordained me. The Bible says our words wonderfully and fearfully made by God.

[John Fuller]

Thanks for listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly. Take a moment and leave a rating for us in your app and then share this episode with a friend. Please. There is somebody you know who needs the encouragement that David offered. I'm John Fuller inviting you back next time as we once again help you and your family thrive in Christ.

[Jim Daly]

Live your truth. A lot of people say that, don't they? But truth isn't something we decide. God has decided it for us and it's our job as believers to share his truth with a world in need. I'll encourage you to do that through my podcast, Refocus with Jim Daly. I visit with fascinating guests about important topics like gender confusion, cancel culture, and more, while helping you share God's love with others. [e-mail].