Funeral of Greyson Whitaker

Romans 8:26–28 (ESV)

26 The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

God we come today with groanings too deep for words.

We do not know what to pray, but nonetheless we pray because we believe you hear us, we believe you ARE here, and we desperately need you.

Search our hearts, help us to hear your words today, to comfort us, remind us of your goodness, and your faithfulness.

AMEN

Opening

My prayer this week is that the words I say in this time are helpful and comforting, to Ashley, Tyler, and Greyson’s whole family.

Also, I have prayed over and over again that my words would be true, because how would they be helpful if they were not true.

The beautiful thing about the Bible is that all of those things are found in its pages: truth, help, comfort, and so many more things that we might not even realize we need.

So I want to share __ TRUE assurances we can find in God’s Word that I pray are helpful and comforting today.

1) I want you to be sure that Greyson is safe and well in the arms of Jesus.

We are left with all kinds of questions in moments like this, some of which we really can’t answer with assurance, but others we, as hard as they may be, are answered by God in His Word.

One question that I believe can confidently be answered is where Greyson’s spirit is right now as we speak.

We can’t point to a confession of faith that Greyson made, he couldn’t understand what it means to sin or turn his back on God.

Our assurance isn’t in something I did, or Ashley and Tyler did to ensure salvation for Greyson, none of us have that kind of power.

The bible is clear that we are all born in sin and in need of a savior, but the savior we worship is a gracious, kind, and good God.

Greyson is with Jesus not because he was good enough (though he was such a good and sweet little guy), but because Jesus was and is good.

He is with Jesus because God loved him before he was even a thought in Ashley’s mind.

He is with Jesus because 2000 years ago God took on flesh, lived a life none of us could live, died a death we all deserved, and rose again in order to destroy the power of death in the lives of those who trust in Him.

Though it doesn’t take away the anguish of living without him, you can have a deep, unwavering confidence that Greyson is safe and well in the arms of his Heavenly Father.

The sweet, happy, talkative little guy who didn’t know the evil and brokenness of this world, is now full and healed in the presence of his heavenly father.

By God’s grace, all Greyson knew in his 5 months was a world of love; full of hugs, kisses, smiles, and laughs.

He knew and loved his momma’s sweet voice, his daddy’s strong hugs, and his sissy’s giggles and kisses.

He loved to be held so he could see the world around him, take in everything he could.

And he is now with a Father who does not withhold ANY good thing from His children and I am sure Greyson is taking it all in with a big smile on his face.

Greyson is safe, he is well, so do not worry.

2) You can be sure that you will see Greyson again one day.

In 2 Samuel 12 David finds out that his young son has died. Though his heart is broken, David confidently proclaims “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me”.

Those last moments snuggling with Greyson as he took his last breaths were not the last ones you will experience with him.

I trust that the moment you see him you will know him and he will know you.

He will remember you voice, your smell, your touch, and so will you.

I trust that he will be really excited to introduce you to his Heavenly father, who has cared for him since the moment he left your arms.

The days ahead are hard and the grief may become overwhelming, but the hope we have, that is rooted in the promises of Jesus, is that one day our tears and our mourning will be turned into celebration as we are reunited with the ones we love that have gone before us.

Tyler and Ashley, hold on to that promise, rest in the hope you have in Christ.

And for those who do not have that hope, the offer from Jesus today is for you to receive it.

It isn’t about being good enough, or saying the right words

Romans 10:9 CSB

9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

3) You can be sure that God is good, faithful, and never changes, even in the hardest of times.

Romans 8:28 is on of my favorite verses in all the Bible, but it is hard to believe in moments like this.

Romans 8:28 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

“What is GOOD about this God?” And in all honest, I can’t give you a sufficient answer.

I know God made a world without death, but that sin brought death into the picture.

I know God came to earth in Christ Jesus to conquer death and give us a hope for eternity.

And I know God doesn’t call what we are experiencing right now “good”.

But in His boundless wisdom and His perfect plan, even this will be worked out as good.

James says

James 1:17 CSB

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James is saying that every good thing we have in life is a gift from God.

Greyson was a gift from God, even though his life was so short.

This family and community of people gathered here today is a gift from God to bring comfort in this storm.

But James also reminds us here that the goodness we see in the gifts God gives us is a part of Him that never changes.

There have been and will continue to be moments when we question God, and I want you to know that God is big enough and strong enough for your questions.

We live in a broken world that changes as quick as the seasons, but God never changes, even when life is hard and our hearts are broken.

Don’t let this pain pull you away from God.

When everything in us wants to turn away, we must intentionally turn toward God.

His promises and his presence await us.

When we open the Bible, the Lord can speak to us through it.

Words of comfort. Of reassurance. Of grace.

Cling to those.

God is for you. He will never leave you. His promises are true.

Hold on to Jesus.

Hold on to His goodness.

Let your tears flow freely. Voice your grief and pain to Him.

Lean into those around you.

God’s promises will comfort you, but they will not magically erase your pain.

Time may take away the sting, but this gaping wound will forever leave a scar.

You will never forget Greyson, the one whom you loved and had dreams for and treasured for 5 months.

You will carry him in your heart until the day God takes you home.

And on that day, when you see him again, you will rejoice that he is gloriously happy in heaven and that God fulfilled his purpose for his life.

Graveside Service

As we gather here today this is a place of sadness, a reminder of death, but there will come a day when these gravestones will no longer be needed and where the tears shed will be wiped away.

There is a popular Christian song right now called “Graves into Gardens” which declares You turn graves into gardens You turn bones into armies You turn seas into highways Your the only one who can

There is indeed a time to mourn, a time to weep, and a time to die, but there will one day be a time when those things are no more.

Revelation 21:3–4 CSB

3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

Though we are saying goodbye to Greyson today, it really is “goodbye for now”. We look forward to the day when this place will be obsolete, unnecessary as our good and mighty God will put an end to our horrible enemy of death and usher in an eternal time of dancing, singing, living, and rejoicing.

Until that day may we find comfort and rest in the Words of the Lord to those who are brokenhearted:

Psalm 34:18 CSB

18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.

Prayer