Try sprinting all out, as fast as you can, and you will discover two distinct truths. One, you can't do it for very long (maybe 10 seconds and then you start slowing down). Two, you need to stop because you are out of breath and require oxygen. Life is longer than 10 second and we can't survive without breathing. therefore, life is an endurance race and not a sprint and it is essential that we understand that fact. If we continue to sprint through our life, we will not make it very far without needing to stop and fight for our next breath. If we understand that life is long and difficult and requires determination and motivation and patience and getting uncomfortable and overcoming "pain" over a long period of time, we will be less discouraged and more likely to finish the race ... and we will actually enjoy the run.
Lord, help me to realize that my attempts to sprint through life do nothing but leave me breathless and tired and much further from my destination than I desire.