“You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Psalm‬ ‭31:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Yesterday, we finally, firmly set our feet in a spacious place. A team of doctors turned on Chris’s deep brain stimulator and his tremor stilled. His voice and inflection returned. He brushed his own teeth and held and drank his own coffee without spilling a drop. We high-fived like when we were kids. He spoke and gestured wildly again. Every new discovery brought fresh tears and prolific praise.

All through the day, we kept talking about what God was doing on his behalf. We realized how amazing it is that he lived through the initial fire, the ten week coma and two code blues. We acknowledge how frustrating it was to wake up to life without the use of voice, arms, or legs. We lamented the more than two full years he spent tremoring. And we kept rejoicing at the miracle of restoration he is enjoying now. Yesterday, he told me how it was all worth it. He will never again take the use of his hands for granted.

We have finally gotten to a place where my brother believes, with every fiber of his being, that God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

That is huge.

The reality it suggests is uncomfortable.

I have adopted this belief that the God of the universe is far more concerned with the condition of our soul than the condition of our skin. I keep thinking back to Chris’s long stint in ICU and how my husband and I drove up from Texas to anoint and lay hands on a mostly-dead brother. That day, I begged God to heal him from the inside out. Now I can see how God is answering that prayer, slowly and steadily. He’s healing Chris is a way that will stick for eternity. He’s healing him soul, mind and now body.

And all the while, I get to sit on the sidelines and cheer for the slow-moving miracle.

Sunday morning, I decided that there was no place I’d rather be. I went forward during worship, knelt at the altar and proclaimed in prayer; “If this is Your will for me than this is where I want to be!” After I’d made my peace I opened my eyes to find my big brother, kneeling beside me.

We have stepped into a spacious place, together. And we are pouring forth the praises of God with every footfall. Today, will you join us?