Commentary: Ray Kerr’s beautiful baseball moment points to essential quality By DAVID CHANCEY Sunday, October 11, 2026 ​If you’re an Atlanta Braves fan, you’re probably familiar with the Ray Kerr saga. The Braves acquired Kerr from the San Diego Padres in December 2023. After graduating from high school, he played baseball at a small college in California. ​Eventually, Kerr left California, returned to Reno, and went to work, stocking shelves at a 7-Eleven convenience store and working at a movie theater. ​“I cleaned up a lot of popcorn,” Kerr told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ​He joined the Reno Astros, a group of local players hoping to get noticed by professional baseball scouts. He returned to college, going back to California to pitch for Lassen College in Susanville, then pitched in the Alaska summer league. ​“I kind of quit baseball for a little while because I didn’t think I was good enough to play . . .” he told the AJC. ​“What opened my eyes was when I played in Alaska, and I figured out, ‘Oh, these guys, some of them are D-2 and D-3. I was like, ‘Pretty cool. I’m actually kind of decent.’” ​His Alaska performance brought an offer from Cumberland University in Tennessee to pitch for their team. Then the Miami Marlins and Seattle Mariners watched him pitch. Seattle offered him a minor league contract. ​Kerr progressed to Triple-A before being traded to the San Diego Padres. He made his major league debut in 2022 at age 27. He was then traded to the Braves and made ten appearances before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He sat out the 2025 season and finally joined Atlanta on August 17 after rehab assignments. Six weeks later, he started the do-or-die Wild Card game against the Phillies, pitching 3.1 innings of scoreless ball, allowing one hit. Since then, he opened against the Dodgers and contributed to the Braves’ victory in game 2 of the NLDS. ​Braves pitcher Chris Sale said, “You want to talk about resilience. Ray Kerr is what this team is this year, and he embodies everything a professional athlete should be in terms of never giving up, never backing down.” ​What is resilience? Biblically, resilience is the Holy Spirit-empowered ability to bounce back, recover quickly, and adapt after encountering hardship, difficulty, or distress. Resilience is closely related to perseverance and endurance.​ Scriptural examples of resilience include Joseph, Job, and the apostle Paul. Even Peter, the disciple who denied Jesus, had a tremendous comeback! Here are seven biblical facts about perseverance and resilience: ​First, life’s difficulties are guaranteed. Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). ​Second, God is aware of what we’re facing and cares for us. James 1:12 reads, “Blessed is the man who stands steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life.” Not only is He aware, but God also invites us to “cast our cares (anxieties) upon Him, for He cares for us” (1 Peter 5:7). ​Third, since life is hard, perseverance and resilience are required. The writer of Hebrews commands us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). ​Fourth, God has a purpose in our difficulties. James wrote, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2, 3). God uses our trials to strengthen our faith and shape us into Christlikeness. ​Fifth, perseverance requires trust. 1 Peter 4:19 reads, “Therefore, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful creator.” ​Sixth, God stands with us as we press on. Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you.” We can count on God’s presence. ​Seventh, greater days are ahead for every believer. Romans 8:18 relays, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” ​The resilient Ray Kerr kept on going until he achieved his dream. His story reminds us of the value of perseverance and resilience. For the believer, the Christian life requires remaining faithful and growing more like Jesus every day. When life knocks us down, with God’s strength, we get back up and keep on going, overcoming and pressing ahead. ___ David L. Chancey lives in Fayetteville, Georgia, and serves as transitional pastor of Griffin Church, Griffin, Georgia. See more of his writings at www.davidchancey.com.  BLB.Tagger.Translation = 'CSB'; BLB.Tagger.HyperLinks = 'all'; // 'all', 'none', 'hover' BLB.Tagger.HideTranslationAbbrev = false; BLB.Tagger.TargetNewWindow = true; BLB.Tagger.DarkTheme = false; BLB.Tagger.Style = 'par'; // 'line' or 'par' BLB.Tagger.NoSearchTagNames = ''; // HTML element list BLB.Tagger.NoSearchClassNames = 'noTag doNotTag'; // CSS class list --- PULLQUOTES --- Quote: Biblically, resilience is the Holy Spirit-empowered ability to bounce back, recover quickly, and adapt after encountering hardship, difficulty, or distress. --- PHOTOS --- File: 20241210-120503-c9c-David Chancey Teaching Enhanced (1) copy.jpg Caption: David Chancey