Our spiritual life has its own version of street cred. The phrase “street cred” is an awareness that creates credibility among fellow believers of those who understand the harsh realities of spiritual life.

Credibility comes from an awareness of issues that someone without spiritual situational awareness might not see or understand. Street cred can be ignored and mocked by those not in tune with the Spirit’s leading causing them to walk blindly into dark alleys of deception assuming all is well when they are walking into a spiritual trap.

This happens when they dismiss warnings as foolish and something that should be ignored. Some people don’t want to recognize that certain forms of evil exist because it upsets their illusion of spiritual safety. Those without spiritual street cred will foolishly venture into dark alleys of life assuming all is well when in their ignorance they will be consumed by the evil that awaits them.

Chapter 42 of Isaiah tells us how God will lead us when we walk into a dark spiritual alley. The Message translation says it so well, “I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way, who can’t see where they’re going. I’ll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown countries. I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take and make sure they don’t fall into the ditch. These are the things I’ll be doing for them— sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute.” This protection happens when we realize we are walking into a dark spiritual alley of life and put our hands in the protective hands of God and His word to lead us forward.

Spiritual street cred is being aware of God’s protection and the dangers that exist when we walk into a dark spiritual alley. Before we enter that place, we trust the Lord to get us through to a safe place when we can’t always see what lurks in the darkness. When we have spiritual street cred we can walk into any expression of darkness with confidence because the Lord is walking with us.