Inward peace must never be sacrificed to outward ease.

"Jesus Christ teaches that inward peace must never be sacrificed to outward ease. A lie might often help us to momentary rest, a great black falsehood might be the softest pillow sometimes on which for the time being to rest and aching head. Of what account it is if there be great outward peace, while the heart is at war with itself, while there is a scorpion in the inner nature, stinging the conscience and inflicting mortal pain? Your plaudits cannot reach me with any measure of satisfaction if there be not an inward voice which attests that they are righteously bestowed – they fall upon me as foam flecks the rock it cannot penetrate. You might gather around your friend, pour upon him the billows of your approbation and applause, yet if his heart said to him, “You have no right to this,” all those billows would chase one another to their destruction, and never enter the soul they were intended to bless. 

On the contrary, you have also a profound truth – if there is really peace in your heart any outside storm can have no effect upon you. Jesus Christ adds by suggestion that no motive is to be relied upon that is not drawn from a divine center. Herein we fail so much – our motive has not enough reach. A man may be strong, but the stone which he may be attempting to remove out of his way be a real stumbling-block and ought to be removed, but if he have not leverage enough his strength is wasted in vain endeavor. What we want in life is more leverage, and that needful leverage can be realized only when there is a heavenly purchase. Every motive that is not profoundly religious expires ere it accomplishes any work that is worth doing. No heroism can sustain itself up to the point of conquest that is not inspired by an adequate motive. What is the adequate motive of human life? God’s sovereignty, God’s love, human stewardship, a profound and gracious sense of responsibility, and an appreciation of those opportunities for fulfilling that responsibility which constitutes the very glory and dignity of our human life. It may be that you are operating with too small a motive, your weapons are unequal to the war – there are no weapons equal to this contest that are not provided by the Almighty Captain of the fight" 

~ Joseph Parker, Christ's Finished Work: Studies in Matthew Chapters 16-28