Excerpt from Holly J. Comptons new Book, Choosing True Life

Happiness is such an odd thing in this life. As a child of abuse, I chased hints of happiness with everything I had. What started with cigarettes and perfectionism turned into a desperate need for control and acceptance. What have you been chasing?

I don’t ask this to point out your flaws. The truth is, we all hold out hope that we’ll find that one perfect thing to make us so happy we’ll never feel the crushing weight of disappointment again. That one thing that will change everything. We cry out to anything we deem powerful, like God or the universe, to obtain it, and we become willing to sell our very souls for it.

The problem with striving to be happy is that it’s unsustainable. Happiness is a feeling, just like anger, and chasing it leaves us rundown with nowhere solid to plant our feet. I’ve learned the hard way that our feelings are liars, and liars can only be stopped with the truth. So let me ask, what do you think is the biggest lie told in friend groups, classrooms, conferences, and even some churches?

“Do what makes you happy,” right? “Do you.”

I mean, it’s written on walls, placed on bumper stickers, and jamming up our Instagram feeds. The reality is, however, that doing things that make us unhappy, frustrated, or challenged is what brings growth to our character and builds a foundation of contentment. For example, exercising doesn’t feel great, but it builds muscle and helps our bodies function better than they would without it.

Every choice we make carries a consequence, good or bad, for ourselves and those around us. As a young adult, I desperately wanted to choose the right things, the good things, but my own spiritual emptiness kept me from choosing a sustainable joy through Christ over happiness. We so easily crumble under poor judgment and rebellion as we function in prideful thoughts like, I can do it on my own, or subconscious arrogance in assuming we know better than others, a mindset that knows no age limit.

The Bible is filled with stories of people who made significantly poor choices. Some of them turned back to God for forgiveness, and others didn’t. That’s the blessing and curse of free will; we have the option to mess it all up. There are times when I wish I could go back and tell my teenage self to stop running from the only thing that will fill the need I had, but if I hadn’t walked through all I did, I wouldn’t be here with you in this moment. Since I can’t go back and tell myself, I will tell you. Please don’t waste any more time. There is nothing in this world that will bring the abundant blessing of true life with Jesus except a relationship with Him.

So, here’s what we both need to know. In Deuteronomy 30:19-20, we read Moses’ invitation to the people of Israel:

I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore, you shall choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding closely to Him; for He is your life [your good life, your abundant life, your fulfillment] and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord promised (swore) to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (emphasis added)

Life and death. That choice feels heavy, doesn’t it? I mean, we are always free to avoid the choice altogether, but avoiding it is, in turn, choosing death. Being stuck in survival mode isn’t survival; it’s death in waiting. For many of us, avoidance is rooted in pride and a lack of trust in God. But friend, dragging out our time in control only creates more chains of bondage. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. No matter how you’ve lived, you can make the choice right here and now to change your life for the better. You don’t have to have all the answers or navigate this path alone; once you choose to live for God, you’ll never be alone again.

Let me give you a little more backstory here about God’s chosen people, known as Israel. Deuteronomy 30:19–20 occurs at the close of Moses’ final message to Israel as they stand on the edge of the Promised Land, a lush and beautiful home that God had promised to provide, the place they wandered toward in the desert for 40 years. Knowing he will not be going with them, Moses reminds the people of the covenant they made with God and the blessings that come from loving and obeying Him. He places before them a clear choice, life and blessing or death and loss, and urges them to “choose life” by loving God, walking in His ways, and holding fast to Him. In this passage, “life” is not just physical existence, but a life rooted in God’s presence, protection, and purpose. Moses emphasizes that God Himself is the true source of life, and the future of the nation depends on their decision to remain faithful to Him.

The choice Moses presents is a covenant choice, a decision of loyalty, relationship, and direction. Israel was not being asked to follow God out of mere duty, but to enter into a committed relationship in which their identity, well-being, and future were tied to Him. This matters today because we also face the same foundational decision in our daily lives: to rely on God and walk in His ways, or to turn to our own understanding and live separated from His guidance and blessing. Moses’ message is clear and still true now: Choosing God means choosing life. Turning from God means choosing death. The call to “choose life” is ultimately an invitation to love God, trust Him, and cling to Him, recognizing that true life, purpose, hope, strength, and peace, comes not from circumstances or self-effort, but from relationship with Him.

Holly’s book can be purchased on Amazon by clicking the link below.