Drop EVERYTHING – You need to see “I Can Only Imagine”

I Can Only Imagine is so incredible! Seriously, drop everything. Get a sitter. Go see this tonight (if it’s not already sold out)!

I love Mercy Me’s song I Can Only Imagine, but never really gave much thought to the story behind it. When I’m worshipping God, I try to focus on glorifying Him and just being in the moment with my Lord. However, there are stories behind every song, even the ones scribbled in my own poetry journals.

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I’m sure all the stories behind the best worship songs are good God stories. Most might even be great, but this story needed to be told! Because if you think the song moved you before, just wait until you know how God wrote this story on the heart of Bart Millard.

You may not have seen the previews (although its been viewed over 125 million times and is likely to break the record as the most online viewed faith-film trailer ever!), but I Can Only Imagine is an absolute must see movie!

The movie is based on the true life story of Mercy Me’s lead singer Bart Millard’s life. As a child, he struggles with an abusive atheist father and abandonment by his mother. The movie traces Bart’s journey to finding his own voice for God and demonstrates how God really changes people.

I can’t get a sitter, can I take my kids?

The movie skims over the violent abuse in a way that makes it clear what was happening without making the film dark or depressing. And appropriate for a family movie night! The violence might be too much for little children, but after reading some reviews regarding appropriateness, I took my very sheltered, nearly 8 year old daughter and didn’t feel like it was too much for her. She was very invested in the film.

Although, I did talk with her a bit about what she might see before the movie, the abuse was really hinted at more than shown. I think she enjoyed the movie, but some of the nuances were a little over her head. She had a bit of a hard time being quiet, but asked a lot of good questions about why things happened or commented on how God worked things out. I am glad I took her with me.

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If you grew up in the 70s-80s, I Can Only Imagine will be so relatable!

I really related to his escaping through the music of Amy Grant. For me it was from the bullies at school but my little Walkman was usually playing an Amy Grant cassette. I would listen to I’m Gonna Fly over and over again, imagining myself flying above the world and the hurts I faced everyday at school.

Bart totally geeked out at meeting her, which I so understood. I was so blown away when I had the chance at age 11, I couldn’t bring myself to meet her. Embarrassed by my looks, I didn’t feel good enough to meet Amy Grant. I wish I could go back and say hi. I’d love to tell her how much her music meant to me in my walk as a hurting little girl and young woman. Now my daughter listens to her songs, too.

If you thought War Room was a good movie, you will be blown away by I Can Only Imagine.

This movie is a high-quality film. One of the major critiques for most Christian films is they are cheesy, poorly acted or not shot with the level of cinematography secular films are, but this movie is polished, well-written, superbly acted, and tells a true story in an inspiring way.

I love how the movie portrays a difficult story and a real ending that demonstrates God‘s authority and power but that doesn’t mean everything always works out like a fairy tale. But we can still see the beauty in God’s plan for our lives.

Personally, I have seen that to be true my own life. The answers to prayer that were I’m not going to do it your way have led to the most drastic changes in who I am, are challenges to my flesh and selfishness.

I really enjoyed going to this movie with a young woman I am a mentoring as a young wife and soon to be mother. We got to talk about some really great issues and share the emotional moments of this film.

Bring tissues.

You won’t know if you’re crying because you’re sad or happy but it kind of all blends together, which is kind of how God does things. I can’t remember the last time I cried this hard in a movie. Waterproof mascara is a must, ladies!

But this movie did more than tell his story, it told a human story. We all have hurts we struggle to leave behind and forgive. We all think we need to hide behind a mask and are afraid to chase a dream. I needed to see this movie. God has been reminding me all week that my art (my writing, speaking, design, etc.) doesn’t have to be perfect or look like anyone else’s art, they just need to be the imperfect, messy, wonderful witness of God’s work in me.

On a side note, I really hope you’ll go to see this movie in the theater.

When we support Christian films, we send a clear message to Hollywood, which is so necessary today. Hollywood needs to know that people want to see stories of faith, inspiring stories that are family friendly.

I wholeheartedly want to give my money and time to art that points people to Jesus as well as reminds me what a mighty God we serve. And I love that this film allows me to do both.