“Bless those who curse you do good to those who hate you and pray for those who…persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 There is a form of persecution that may not be life-threatening, but it is heartbreaking. It’s the persecution that comes from non-Christian family members. When loved ones ridicule our faith and mock us for what we believe and how we express our love for God, we feel rejected and unloved. Paul warned believers that following Jesus would result in persecution, but when people we love reject the God we love, the rejection feels personal. Jesus told us to pray for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44). God can give us grace to persevere through persecution even when it comes from those we love. People may mock our message but they are defenseless against our prayers.