All of life passes in vanity. The mind moves amid vain thoughts and temptations. Gradually, it gets used to remembering God, so that amid vanities and troubles, when not thinking, it will suddenly think [of Him], and when not remembering, will suddenly remember Him, just as long as it keeps going without stopping. As long as it is striving forward – do not fear, your little ship is whole, and under the shadow of the Cross it will finish sailing across the sea of life. It is whole and you need not fear what storms may arise. In normal sailing, you cannot avoid inclement weather, and even more so in the path of life. But the misfortunes and storms of life are not frightening for those traveling under the protection of the saving prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. They are not frightening, only do not fall into despondency, for despondency gives birth to despair, and despair is already a mortal sin.

Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina
Living without Hypocrisy