When I watched Breakthrough, I almost cried—multiple times. The entire movie felt like an emotional rollercoaster, but maybe that’s what made it so powerful. It was incredibly well-made, and I definitely think that it’s worth watching, especially if you’re in a season of waiting.
Summary
Brian and Joyce Smith, a middle-aged couple, have trouble connecting with their 14-year-old adopted son, John, because he’s oddly withdrawn. His attitude—which borders on rebellious—worries his parents and his basketball coach, but he won’t talk to anyone about how he feels.
While staying at a friend’s house, John and his friends go outside and play on a frozen lake, despite being warned about the possible danger. Suddenly, the ice breaks and all three boys sink into the water. Though John’s two friends are rescued by emergency team, John can’t be found.
Two men from the emergency team use poles to feel around the water for John since they can’t see what’s beneath the surface. Even though they consider giving up, one of them hears a voice telling him to keep searching. They soon find John, who isn’t breathing, and rush him to the hospital. The doctors and nurses try to revive John, but he won’t wake up. They pronounce him dead.
Joyce stays in John’s hospital room and begs God to revive John. She cries passionately and prays fiercely for her son to come back to life. Moments later, he does. He’s then taken to another hospital to be monitored, but he’s kept in a medically induced coma.
Joyce is constantly at John’s side, but Brian refuses to enter the hospital room. There’s an obvious strain on their relationship. Though Joyce wants everything to be okay, she realizes that she can’t control the situation. This realization helps strengthen their marriage. Most of John’s friends, as well as the Smiths’ pastor, support Joyce and Brian during this time. They pray for John and visit him at the hospital.
Though John’s doctor is hesitant about ending his medically induced coma, he finally decides to do it. Miraculously, John is able to breathe on his own. He can eat, speak, and move. He doesn’t even have any injuries.
John soon leaves the hospital to go home, and life basically returns to normal. He even returns to playing basketball. Near the end of the movie, there’s a heartfelt scene at the Smiths’ church, where John and his parents speak to the congregation and he thanks his parents for everything that they’ve done for him.
Message
The message of Breakthrough is clear: Don’t give up hope, and trust God’s plan—even when you don’t understand what He’s doing. The power of prayer and the importance of surrender are two main themes of this movie. Supporting those who are struggling is also a main theme of the movie. Instead of abandoning the Smiths when they lost (and regained) their son, the Smiths’ pastor, John’s friends, and even strangers rallied around them to comfort them and pray for them.
Though Breakthrough may initially seem similar to recent movies about Heaven, like Heaven Is for Real or Miracles from Heaven, it’s actually quite different. It’s not mentioned or implied that John goes to Heaven when he’s dead for about 45 minutes after he drowns. Breakthrough isn’t really about Heaven, but it is about hope.
I understand that it may not seem possible for John to have been dead for almost an hour but suddenly be alive again. But we can’t believe that the Bible is true and doubt that God raises people from the dead. Jesus rose Lazarus, as well as others, from the dead. And He rose from the dead. Though uncommon today, this has happened and can happen.
Closing Thoughts
In a word, Breakthrough is encouraging. It’s amazing that after drowning in freezing water, dying, coming back to life, and being taken off the ventilator, John was perfectly healthy. He didn’t have trouble breathing, speaking, or moving. God completely healed him and clearly answered the prayers of his family members and friends—and even strangers. It’s also amazing that God spoke to a non-Christian rescue team member and used him to rescue John.
The relationship between John and Joyce is especially touching Even though he basically wants nothing to do with her, her love toward him is relentless. Her sacrificial love is an example of Christ’s sacrificial love toward us. While it would’ve been great if the salvation message had been clearly presented in Breakthrough, it’s still a great movie and can still inspire readers to trust God and look for Him to work in incredible ways.
You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. (Psalm 40:5 ESV)
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