The Quiet Longing of Bold Women Wanting to Be Led Without Losing Your Power
- Sep 23, 2025
- 4 min read
Sherrika Sanders is a faith-driven leadership mentor, author, and podcast host who equips ambitious Christian women to lead boldly, reclaim their identity, and align faith, family, and career to build a lasting legacy, without burnout or feeling unseen.
Many powerhouse women can command a room, lead a team, and hold a household together, yet secretly long for the safety of being covered and guided. This article explores the hidden tension between strength and surrender, revealing how releasing control, allowing yourself to be led by God and trusted mentors, and receiving support doesn’t weaken your power, it multiplies it.
The confession no one hears
You can command a room and carry a household, and yet, sometimes, you just want to be the one who’s held, guided, and covered. You know how to make decisions quickly.
You hold it together for your family, your team, your clients, and your community. They count on you, and you deliver. Always. No matter the cost. But if you are honest, there are moments when you wish someone else would take the reins.
Just for a little while. You long to exhale. To be led. Covered. Supported. And yet, the thought of stepping back feels foreign, maybe even unsafe. Because what if everything falls apart when you stop holding it all together?
I know that feeling well. I remember lying awake at night, thinking, “I can’t mess this up. I can’t slow down. Everyone needs me.” I was admired, respected, and exhausted. It wasn’t that I didn’t love what I was building. I just didn’t know how to lead boldly without having to carry it all alone.
The myth that keeps us striving
There is a quiet pressure many strong women carry, the belief that needing to be led makes us weak. We’re celebrated for our strength and self-sufficiency, so the idea of letting someone else guide us feels like a betrayal of everything we’ve worked for. But that’s a lie. Allowing yourself to be led doesn’t diminish your strength. It refines it. It multiplies it.
The turning point for me came when I finally admitted, I am tired of always being the strong one. And God gently reminded me, I was never meant to lead from empty. I was created to be led by Him first, to be poured into so I could pour out without burning out.
God’s blueprint: Even leaders are led
Throughout Scripture, the strongest leaders were led first:
Deborah guided Israel with courage, but only after sitting under the palm tree, hearing from God.
Esther saved her people, but only after being guided by Mordecai.
Moses delivered a nation, but only because he first followed God’s voice in the wilderness.
Being led is not a demotion. It’s a divine design. When you let God lead you, and surround yourself with mentors, coaches, and safe guides who can pour into you, your capacity expands. You lead from overflow, not depletion. Your boldness becomes anchored in peace, not pressure.
How to be led while still leading
Here’s what this looks like in practice:
Carve out space to be poured into. Stop waiting for “when things slow down.” Schedule mentorship, spiritual direction, or coaching now, your future self will thank you.
Practice surrender in small ways. Ask for help. Delegate the one thing you’ve been clutching. Rest, even when the to-do list isn’t done. Each small release builds trust that things won’t collapse without you.
Define who gets to lead you. Not everyone qualifies. Choose voices who see your strength, honor your faith, and can challenge you without trying to diminish you.
Revisit your identity. Remember, you are a daughter before you are a leader. Your worth isn’t tied to your output. It’s anchored in who you are in Christ.
Stay rooted in God’s voice. Tune out the crowd’s applause long enough to hear the quiet whisper of His guidance. He knows the weight you carry. Let Him carry you.
The woman who leads from overflow
Imagine this. You’re still the powerhouse everyone admires, but now you move from a place of peace. Your calendar is full, but your soul is at rest.
You’re covered, supported, and led, and because of that, your impact multiplies. This is what happens when bold women stop striving and start receiving. You don’t have to choose between being powerful and being led. You were created to be both.
And when you allow yourself to be led by God, by wise mentors, by those safe few who can hold space for you, you become an even more extraordinary leader. Not because you’re doing more, but because you’re finally free to lead from fullness instead of depletion.
A personal note from me to you
If you’ve been carrying the weight of leading everything and everyone, hear me, you don’t have to prove your strength anymore. You don’t have to do this alone.
This is the journey I walk powerhouse women through, trading burnout for peace, striving for Spirit-led success, and becoming the woman God called them to be, without losing themselves in the process. Because you can lead boldly and be led beautifully. And you deserve both.
If you’re ready to move beyond surface-level faith and step into deeper intimacy with God, I invite you to start with my book "When You Know His Name: Discover Identity, Intimacy, and the Power of Prayer through the Names of God", available now on Amazon.
And if you’re seeking clarity in your own life and leadership, let’s connect. Book your 30-minute "Your Bold Next Step" clarity call or explore additional 1:1 mentoring opportunities.
Read more from Sherrika Sanders
Sherrika Sanders, Mentor for Faith-Driven Women
Sherrika Sanders founded Transform the GAAP (Goals Aligned Achieving Purpose) to empower wives and mothers in leadership to step into their full potential - faithfully and fearlessly. A former corporate accounting powerhouse, she now mentors high-achieving women to break free from imposter syndrome, set healthy boundaries, and lead with executive presence. Her faith-driven strategies help women build lasting legacies while navigating both personal and professional challenges with confidence. Sherrika discovered she didn't have to choose between success and well-being - she could thrive in both. Now, she equips her clients to do the same, creating lives of impact, fulfillment, and bold leadership.
