Jacob Raleigh

In 2009, Jacob Raleigh made it to the Kentucky state tennis tournament playing for Letcher County Central High School. He was a left-handed player with a power game. Jacob made it back to the state tournament again as a senior in 2011, but this time he was a right-handed player who relied more on finesse than power.

Why the change? In between those two trips to the state tournament, Jacob contracted a rare form of cancer and had to have his left arm amputated. Not to be deterred, he learned to play the game right-handed. Amazingly, he played well enough to compete at a high level. This is truly a remarkable story of perseverance.

It makes most of our excuses look trivial, doesn’t it?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”—James 1:2-4