have learnt that there'll always be someone better than us, and we'll have to deal with it. why then wallow in self-pity due to our inadequacies, because we compare ourselves with others whom we think are better than us (at something important to us)?

submit yourselves, then, to God. resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (james 4:7)
let's admit it. most, if not all of us would like spiritual growth to be easy. I for one would appreciate it if my ability to withstand temptation required little effort. I hope the Holy Spirit will do The Work and I want God to protect me from stress - and thank God His Spirit empowers me.. but hey, gotta remind ourselves that we have to intentionally submit our wills to Him and resist the devil before His Spirit can work powerfully in our lives..(as in the above verse) keep fighting the devil..."fight it, fight it."