Christian integrity comes from being not "trying to be." God is Holy, we are to be holy.
Romans 12:1,2: I beseech you therefore, brethen, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
I also think we discount the notion of grace. Some think grace only has to do with God's forgiveness of our sins that ultimately lets us in heaven despite our imperfection.
Yet God tells us repeatedly we are to be holy and obedient while in this life. Problem: we all sin, we all fall short of God's glory. We are still expected to strive, to do our best to emulate Christ, and Christ rewards our eforts with His grace. His grace makes up what we lack and helps us be holy.
Of course we can't do everything by ourselves. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't do ANYTHING. We do what we can, and Crist lifts us up and helps us along. Why else would we have the gifts of the spirit?