In a little while you will see Me no longer, and then after a little while you will see Me…your sorrow shall be turned into joy. – John 16:17,20

When things are only temporary, we put up with them. “A little while ” — it takes off the edge of sorrow. If it be but a minute, and then afterwards there shall be never-ending blessing coming out of it, oh, then we glory in the tribulation, and count it not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. Afflicted child of God, I commend to you those three words, “a little while.” I beseech you to roll them under your tongue as a sweet morsel when your mouth is filled with the wormwood of sorrow. “A little while,” and after that little while is over then it shall be “forever with the Lord.” The other reflection which He gave them for their comfort is that which is furnished by our text, “Your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” May God the Spirit give us comfort while we think over these words.

And first, brethren, this language was strictly true with regard to the remarkable sorrow which was then coming upon them when our Lord spoke. You know the chapter. The Lord had been telling them of His death. They had been sitting around the table, and He had revealed to them the fact that He was about to be delivered into the hands of wicked men and be crucified, and that this would make them weep and lament; but concerning this He says, “Your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” We have also another sorrow coming out of that, namely, the sorrow that our risen Lord has gone away from us, has risen from Mount Olive and left His Church a widow; yet that sorrow, too, is turned into joy. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.gracegems.org/Spurgeon/from_sorrow_to_joy.htm