The Greater the Difficulty, the Greater the Reward?

Imām Ibn Taimiyyah, may Allāh have mercy on him, said:

And from the things that should be known is that Allāh’s pleasure or love is not [achieved] through just punishing oneself or burdening it with difficulties [such] that every time a deed is harder, it’s better, as so many ignorant people think–that rewards are in accordance with the difficulty [of deeds] in all things.

No! Rather rewards are in accordance with the benefits of a deed, the good it brings about, and its pluses; and in accordance with how much obedience [there is in it] to Allāh and His Messenger [ﷺ].

Majmūʿ Al-Fatāwá, vol. 25, p. 281-82.