I used to be afraid of girls. Don't know exactly why, but I do seem to find much less angst with the many strong minded and deep thinking women of these days - from athletes to news anchors, artists, politicians and so on. On the other hand, the current and complete deterioration of American socio-political and localized cultures makes me much more fearful of the consequences of that phenomenon. Keep going and persevere through the persecutions, leaning on Jesus and the testimonies of Paul and the other Apostles and other Believers and apparently what they endured. James 1:1-5. Don't let the small-minded and ignorant wannabe believers blow your ship off course. You apparently already know this , but there is Matthew 5:43-45, also.