Sometimes the very person who relentlessly teases you about your faith is the one quietly searching for God. That’s when teasing Is clearly not the whole story.

When my coauthor Karen Covell mentioned that she couldn't schedule a rehearsal on Bible study night, a singer named Pendleton began teasing her about her "nun practice." The jokes embarrassed her enough that she wanted to keep her faith to herself at work.

Later, Pendleton called. He wanted to talk about that very Bible study. His life hadn't turned out as he hoped, and he was ready to talk about God. Sitting together in Karen's car, they prayed as he received Christ.

Karen had seen the teasing. God had seen the struggle underneath it.

We cannot know everything happening inside another person. A joke or an awkward response may leave us feeling rejected, but it doesn't tell us the whole story. We can remain kind, honor boundaries, and keep praying. Someone who seems uninterested today may remember tomorrow that you are a person who knows Jesus and is safe to approach.

Reflect: Is there someone teasing or reacting negatively when you mention your faith? Perhaps there is a deeper question or struggle underneath—and God may simply be asking you to stay kind, available, and unashamed of what you believe.