Tim Timmons’ story from “I Can Only Imagine 2” is one of extraordinary faith in the face of impossible circumstances. Diagnosed with stage four, inoperable cancer in 2001 and given just five years to live, Tim has now been walking with tumors on his liver for over 25 years. His journey offers profound insights into how we can navigate life’s most challenging seasons while maintaining hope and purpose.

What Does It Mean to Live One Day at a Time?

When faced with a terminal diagnosis, Tim discovered that his story wasn’t about cancer—it was about “joining Jesus in today.” This perspective shift transformed how he approached each morning. Rather than being consumed by fear of the future or regret about the past, he learned to focus on the gift of the present moment.

Living one day at a time doesn’t mean ignoring reality or pretending everything is fine. Tim still has tumors on his liver today. Instead, it means choosing to trust that God is at work even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

How Do We Overcome Fear and Worry?

Tim admits he hasn’t “overcome” fear in the traditional sense. Instead, he’s learned that we get good at what we practice. If we practice worry, we become excellent worriers. But if we practice trust, we develop that muscle instead.

The Daily Practice of Trust

Fear and worry are natural responses to uncertainty, especially when facing serious illness or other life challenges. Tim’s approach isn’t to deny these feelings but to intentionally practice trust as a daily discipline. This doesn’t guarantee that everything will go well, but it acknowledges that God is at work in all circumstances.

The key is recognizing that today is a new day—”This is the day the Lord has made”—and choosing to receive it as a gift rather than a burden.

What Role Do Our Gifts Play in Serving Others?

One of the most powerful insights from Tim’s journey is his understanding that our gifts aren’t for ourselves—they’re for others. As a songwriter, he doesn’t write music to showcase his talent but to give people prayers they can sing.

Gifts as Service, Not Self-Promotion

Tim explains that the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience—isn’t meant to make us feel better about ourselves. These qualities are developed in us for the sake of others. When we walk in step with the Spirit, we become a blessing to our neighbors, our families, and even our enemies.

This perspective transforms how we view our abilities and talents. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, artist, or accountant, your gifts are meant to serve the world around you, not just advance your own interests.

How Can We Join Jesus in Our Daily Lives?

Tim has developed a simple but profound daily practice. Every morning, he writes an “X” on his wrist with a Sharpie marker. This X represents Christ and serves as a reminder of his one job for the day: to join Jesus in whatever He’s doing.

The Power of Simple Reminders

This practice isn’t about trying to do impressive things for God or attempting to evangelize everyone he meets. Instead, it’s about staying aware of God’s presence and being available to participate in His work throughout the day.

The X on his wrist represents gratitude for another day and a commitment to pay attention to how God might want to use him to love others well.

I Can Only Imagine 2 Trailer:

What Does It Look Like to Hold Gratitude and Grief Together?

Tim’s story illustrates that faith doesn’t eliminate pain or solve all problems. He still lives with cancer, still faces uncertainty about the future, and still experiences the full range of human emotions. The difference is learning to hold both gratitude and grief simultaneously.

Beauty in the Fire

Rather than waiting for circumstances to improve before experiencing joy, Tim has learned to find God’s presence even in difficult seasons. This doesn’t mean being happy about suffering, but recognizing that God is with us in the fire and can bring beauty even from ashes.

How Do We Wake Up Again Each Day?

The title of Tim’s book, “Waking Up Again,” captures the essence of his daily approach to life. Each morning presents a choice: will we wake up with gratitude for another day, or will we be consumed by anxiety about what might happen?

The Gift of Today

Waking up again means approaching each day as a fresh opportunity to experience God’s presence and serve others. It means writing our own story of faithfulness, one day at a time, regardless of our circumstances.

What If Jesus Is Worth Checking Out?

For those who might be skeptical about faith or unsure about God, Tim offers a simple invitation: “What if Jesus is worth checking out?” He acknowledges that followers of Jesus, including himself, aren’t perfect and sometimes give faith a bad reputation.

The Beauty of Jesus’ Way

But Tim has found the way of Jesus to be compellingly beautiful—a path that includes blessing our enemies, loving sacrificially, and finding hope even in the darkest circumstances. He’s betting his “one and only life” on this way because he’s experienced its transformative power firsthand.

Life Application

This week, consider developing your own daily reminder practice. Whether it’s writing an X on your wrist, setting a phone reminder, or placing a note where you’ll see it each morning, create a simple way to remember that today is a gift and an opportunity to join God in His work.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What am I practicing daily—worry or trust?
• How can I use my gifts to serve others rather than promote myself?
• What would it look like for me to “join Jesus” in my everyday activities and relationships?
• Am I holding both gratitude and grief, or am I waiting for perfect circumstances before I can experience joy?

Tim’s journey reminds us that we don’t have to have everything figured out to live with purpose and hope. We simply need to wake up each day, acknowledge God’s presence, and make ourselves available to love others well. In doing so, we discover that even in the fire, God is at work, and it is beautiful.

WATCH THE FULL CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH INTERVIEW WITH TIM TIMMONS HERE: