Living the Led Life

Living the Led Life
Monday, February 2, 2026 by CF Sherrow

Categories: Faithfulness of God / inner peace

What does it mean to be led?

At its simplest, it means someone who knows the terrain goes ahead of you, guiding the way. We use the same word when a dog or horse is led by a rope or leash. Yes, it can be a form of control—but more importantly, it’s a form of protection. It keeps the one being led safe.

When you are led by God, it can sometimes feel as though He has you on a very short leash. That’s happened to me—most recently about four months ago. I had just returned from Nashville, where I recorded My Personal Holocaust as an audiobook. A couple of days later, I got really sick. And unlike the usual pattern, it didn’t pass after a few days.

Sometimes God lets us feel the consequences of our pace. I had been pushing too hard, taking on too many responsibilities, saying yes to too many duties. He had to “shorten my leash”. He is my fortress and strength, the author of my faith, the One to whom I’ve surrendered control. And yet I brushed Him aside with a confident, “I’ve got this.”

No, I really didn’t.

And don’t tell me you’ve never been there.

The hallmark of being led by God is inner peace. The person who keeps grabbing the reins back—the one who throws a spiritual temper tantrum, the one who insists, like my godson did when he was very small, “me do”—does not have peace. Life becomes a struggle when we insist on doing it alone. When we become driven.

God rarely yanks our chain. More often, He nudges. Like the shepherd in Psalm 23, He uses His rod not to strike but to guide—tapping gently on the sheep’s side, getting its attention, steering it toward safety.

I don’t know how it lands for you, but I would much rather be led than driven.

Peace is a beautiful foundation to build a life on.