God's chosen saints may have had a self-imposed pity party, thinking they have been shortchanged on spiritual gifts. Comparison is a thief of joy, especially when we try to compare ourselves with someone else who truly is best at something we are not. If we evaluate ourselves negatively, it can have an even worse impact than getting depressed by our surroundings. Unchecked comparison to others is especially dangerous when we are comparing ourselves in the world. We realize that God is the One with true power and authority, but how often do we find ourselves in a situation where it is easier to stay still than to move forward, yet when we move forward in faith, we find that God gives us the strength and encouragement and comfort we needed when we were not up to the task on our own. Our inaction is Satan's favorite action. When we are self-deprecating, we bring the focus to ourselves, we wear down, lowering the quality of our lives in our eyes, and we stop taking action in our spiritual walk. We must remember that we are not puppets whom God and Satan are fighting to take control over. We are fighting carnal nature and must always take action to give our hearts to God. We must trim our lamps, keeping them full of fuel, giving God something to bless. Aligning with God's will takes diligent focus and effort, keeping our eyes on the prize, doing everything we can to allow God to increase our faith and heal our hearts.