Last weekend I visited Pitlochry, and walked around the hydro electric dam, and the fish ladder. The fish ladder is composed of 34 tiered pools, that allow salmon to swim upstream in the breeding season, sometimes swimming distances of 6,000 miles.

Sometimes I relate to that salmon travelling a long distance against the flow. It must feel like an epic swim, swimming round obstacles and uphill.

Why might some one feel like this? It could be that you have a different outlook from your friends, and don’t want to compromise. Perhaps colleagues at work have different ideas as to how to behave. There are many times when we might feel that we are going in a different direction from everyone else.

I often think of the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. The giant Goliath was making threats, and the Israeli people were terrified. The shepherd boy David decides to take him on, and King Saul offers him a heavy set of armour and weapons to do this. But this is not David’s way, so he refuses this armour, and instead faces the giant with a sling and some smooth pebbles. David wins the battle not because he conforms to what is expected, but because he trusts God to help  him.

God creates us to be ourselves. We look to Him to transform us to be more like Jesus through His Holy Spirit, and that work is ongoing. Yet He also calls us to be true to our God given selves. He wants us to know our story, our strengths and weaknesses, and to discover our calling, the purpose for which He has given us these gifts. Sometimes we can be tempted to compromise with the ways of the world. Yet being our distinctive selves, even with all our faults and failings is our vocation, and when we are faithful to this, we find our peace.

Maybe you feel as if you are struggling today? It is tough to keep swimming against the tide. Yet being faithful to our values, our identity, our core beliefs is the best we can do. And when we think it is too hard, we call on the strength of our mighty Saviour, and we find new  resilience and a deeper love. May God be with all who feel they are going against the stream, and give us energy and renewal of strength and purpose in every circumstance.

Gracious Father, we are small children in your presence, trying to find our way in the world. We face obstacles and temptation, and we ask forgiveness for our mistakes, and the consequences of these. Lord Jesus, when we feel as if we are alone, standing up for what we believe, facing misunderstanding or opposition, keep us strong. We are open to reviewing our position, to ask if You want us to learn a new thing or amend our position, for we have humble hearts. Like David, when we face giant obstacles, keep us calm and trusting in You. May your Holy Spirit guide us, and give us renewed vigour to keep going, even when it against the flow, for we seek to do your will alone, and to bless others. Keep us steadfast in our path and in Your love, in Jesus name, Amen.