Just kidding  . . . I mean, maybe they did, but not in 2 Timothy 2:3-7:
When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain.

When we are living in the in-between or the unfinished places of life it can be difficult to remember to be: selfless, disciplined, and patient. Instead,  we have a tendency to ignore the feelings, fight them, or be cynical. We should be curious about our feelings in these spaces, lean into them, and trust God.

Soldiers: always ready to respond & be deployed, fighting for something bigger than themselves, following orders, and following through (selfless)
Athletes: understand there are no shortcuts to being a winner, it takes discipline and effort to stay ready for competition and develop the skills you need. (disciplined)
Farmers: have diligence and patience, they work hard, wait, hope, harvest, and repeat. 
(patient)