If you are having trouble, you can "absorb" equipment. Simply go to inventory, select an equip, click options and then click in the middle of the screen. You gain all the boosts from the equip. If you re-spec, you will lose all absorbed boosts so be careful.
The normal quests are way too hard early in the game and yet they become very easy later on. Would it be better if they were easier at the beginning and then get harder as you complete storyline quests?