'Breakthrough' Trailer Released: New Movie Starring Chrissy Metz Highlights Power of Prayer (Watch)

Dec 06, 2018 01:14 PM EST

The first trailer for the upcoming film "Breakthrough," which tells the miraculous real-life story of a mother and son who show the true power of prayer, has been released, inspiring millions around the globe.

"This is Us" star Chrissy Metz plays Joyce Smith, a Christian mother devastated after her son, John (played by Marcel Ruiz), falls through an icy Missouri lake, nearly losing his life.

"Please God, send your Holy Spirit to save my son," she prays as her son fights for his life in a hospital bed.

From "Miracles from Heaven" producer DeVon Franklin, "Breakthrough" is based on Joyce's book, The Impossible. After being rescued from the lake, John lay lifeless for more than an hour in a hospital bed. Yet, his mother refused to lose faith and fervently prayed for a miracle. Her prayers were answered as John's heart suddenly began to beat again. Just a few short days after the accident, John walked out of the hospital - completely healed.

The trailer also depicts the powerful moment Joyce tells her son's physician, "Be the best for John, let God do the rest." John's atheist first responder is also shown questioning if God may be real, as "a voice" told him where to find John in the ice cold water.

As of Thursday afternoon, the trailer, which features the Hillsong hit "Oceans" and leaves viewers with an overwhelming sense of hope, had over 12 million views.

Breakthrough
(Photo: 20th Century Fox)

During a previous interview with The Gospel Herald, Joyce revealed that shortly before the accident, she had been participating in the Believing God Bible study by Beth Moore, which hinges on the statement that "I believe God is who He says He is, and I believe He can do what He says He can do."

"I don't believe it was a coincidence," Joyce said. "When I walked into the ER, I was of the mindset that God was there, and He was going to be with us through this."

Doctors told Joyce her son, a high school basketball player, would remain a "vegetable" - if he pulled through the tragic event. But as soon as Joyce prayed over her son, his pulse immediately returned, astounding the nurses and doctors around him.

"The nurse had her finger on John's pulse for 27 minutes, and had gotten nothing," Joyce said. "She told me, 'The minute you prayed, something moved up John's body with such force, it pushed me back - and suddenly, I got a pulse.' They were stunned."

Two days later, John woke up and began communicating with those around him. Seven days after waking, John went off the ventilator, and 16 days later, he walked out of the hospital, basketball in hand.

"To this day, John has not had any side effects from the accident, despite doctors' predictions," Joyce said. "God has totally and completely healed him. He carries a 3.0 in high school, he went back to play basketball, and at one game he scored 30 points. God has been so miraculous and good in all the things that He has done.

John previously told GH his family isn't publicizing the story for their benefit; rather, they want to demonstrate to a watching world the goodness and nearness of God, and that with faith, nothing is impossible.

"We're doing this because our country needs hope," he said. "We're not the answer - God's the answer. We're just sharing the story so this country will see how great our God is. He's not dead, He's alive, and He's still in the miracle working business. I'm blown away by how great He is."

Added Joyce, "We've had so many people come up and say, 'This story has changed my life and restored my faith in God.' That's what we hope people take away from our story, that it draws everyone who hears it closer to God."

"Breakthrough" will be released in April 2019 and also stars Topher Grace, Josh Lucas, and Hip-hop artist Lecrae. For group ticket information, visit www.BreakthroughMovie.com/Groups.

Watch the trailer for the inspiring film below.