Amazingly, the song was written in mere minutes by MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard.
In reality, those lyrics took a lifetime to craft.
Although he found faith at a young age, life wasn't easy for Bart.
He leaned into an active imagination and his love of music as escapes from a troubled home life.
As he grew older, Bart turned to football in hopes of somehow connecting with his abusive father.
But a career-ending injury-combined with the vision of a teacher who saw unlimited potential-set Bart on a musical pathway.
Chasing a dream while running from broken relationships with his father and Shannon, his childhood sweetheart, Bart hits the road in an old, decrepit tour bus with his new band MercyMe-named for his grandmother's favorite expression.
With the guidance of a grizzled music-industry insider, the band begins a journey none of them could ever have imagined.
A gripping reminder of the power of forgiveness, I Can Only Imagine beautifully illustrates that no one is ever too far from God's love-or from an eternal home in Heaven.
Directed by
The Erwin Brothers
Screenplay by
Jon Erwin & Brent McCorkle
Starring
J. Michael Finely, Madeline Carroll, Trace Adkins, Cloris Leachman and Dennis Quaid
Rated PG | 111 Minutes