What do you do when the miracle doesn’t come the way you prayed it would?
That honest, faith-stretching question sits at the heart of I Can Only Imagine 2, the highly anticipated follow-up inspired by MercyMe’s powerful song “Even If.” Releasing in theaters nationwide February 20, 2026, the film — and the story behind it — invites audiences to wrestle with faith that doesn’t rely on guarantees, but instead rests in God’s presence through the fire.
In this K-LOVE God Stories conversation, Bart Millard, frontman of MercyMe, is joined by longtime friend and collaborator Tim Timmons. Together, they share how friendship, vulnerability and daily dependence on Jesus have shaped their lives — and their music — through grief, illness, family challenges and unanswered prayers.
Listen to the full conversation with Crystal Thornton, Bart Millard and Tim Timmons in the podcast below.
Living With “Terminal Grace”
More than 20 years ago, Tim Timmons was given a five-year cancer prognosis. Today, he’s still writing, still leading worship and still waking up grateful.
“I’m not cancer-free. There are still tumors on my liver… but the gift is perspective. I woke up again today.”
Rather than allowing fear to define his days, Tim has embraced what he calls “sobriety in life” — learning to live fully present instead of consumed by worry.
“I woke up again today. I have one job — to join Jesus in whatever He’s up to.”
That daily practice has transformed how he approaches suffering, shifting his focus from what might happen to what God is already doing.
Redefining Success at Home
Bart Millard — Lead Singer of MercyMe
[Photo Credit: Lionsgate]
For Bart Millard, decades of chart-topping success eventually gave way to a deeper, harder truth: ministry can’t thrive if family is falling apart.
“If it’s not working at home, it might as well not be working at all. If I never sell another record and I have a healthy family — spiritually, emotionally, mentally — then I’m pretty stinking successful.”
That perspective has been shaped by both healing and loss. Bart shared that his father-in-law — one of the most faith-filled men he’s ever known and someone who deeply influenced his walk with God — passed away just over a year ago.
“Even when you celebrate someone who’s counting the seconds until they see Jesus, it’s still incredibly painful… especially around the holidays.”
Why Friendship Matters in the Fire
Bart and Tim first met on tour in 2012. What began as a professional connection became a life-giving friendship — one that helped give birth to “Even If.”
“The worst thing when you’re struggling is isolation. We were never meant to do this alone.”
Bart says healing often begins the moment pain is spoken out loud — whether to God or to a trusted friend.
“The moment you say it out loud, healing begins.”
Tim adds that friendship rooted in faith isn’t self-focused — it’s outward-looking.
“The fruit of the Spirit isn’t for me. It’s for you — for my friend. The end goal is always the other.”
Faith Without Guarantees
Both men have lived the message of “Even If” — trusting God when outcomes remain uncertain.
Bart doesn’t offer easy answers.
“It may not come — and God still sits on His throne. I don’t know how He works. I just know that He’s working.”
Tim reframes the very meaning of hope.
“Biblical hope isn’t an outcome. He is the hope — not just what He can do for us.”
Practicing Jesus in the Other 10,000 Minutes
Tim challenges believers to live out their faith far beyond Sunday mornings.
“There are 10,080 minutes in a week. We’re great at the 80 minutes at church — but what about the other 10,000?”
Instead of practicing worry, he’s learning to practice presence.
“When I practice worry, I’m saying I’m the king of my kingdom. But when I practice joining Jesus, everything changes.”
Holding Grief and Gratitude Together
I Can Only Imagine 2 doesn’t promise tidy endings. Instead, it invites viewers to hold two truths at the same time.
“We tend to live life like it’s single file — grief or gratitude. But sometimes you have to hold both at the same time.”
The message is clear: faith doesn’t eliminate pain, but it does anchor us in hope.
“Faith doesn’t mean life is easy. It means we’re never alone in the fire.”
What Lingers After the Credits Roll
Bart says his prayer for the film is simple — and deeply personal.
“If this gets fathers and sons talking… if it brings healing at home… then it’s done what it’s supposed to do.”
He adds that while faith can be shared on stages and screens, it’s often hardest to live out where it matters most.
“The hardest thing to do is to be Jesus in your own home.”
That honesty, Bart says, is at the heart of I Can Only Imagine 2 — a reminder that faith isn’t just proclaimed, it’s practiced in everyday relationships.
I Can Only Imagine 2 opens in theaters nationwide February 20, 2026
Listen to the full conversation with Crystal Thornton, Bart Millard and Tim Timmons on the K-LOVE God Stories Podcast above.
