Catch the Rain: Soul Restoration for the Dry and Weary Christian

by Corella Roberts

BURNOUT, COMPASSION FATIGUE, MINISTRY EXHAUSTION …

If you intentionally follow Jesus, you’ve likely experienced the drain. Perhaps you feel called to your ministry and care deeply about the people you serve but face inward battles of discouragement, loneliness, and flat-out weariness. You’re not alone—studies show that 9 out of 10 Christians in ministry are feeling it, too. But what if your Father wants to saturate your soul, not just use you to build His kingdom?

Through personal stories and reflective practices, Corella Roberts offers six key steps to help you incorporate restorative rhythms right where you are: listen well, create safety, get personal, bring all of you, let God fight, and persevere realistically.

Don’t trudge through your desert, one weary day at a time. Bare your face skyward, faithful one, and catch the rain.

228 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2024

About the author

Corella Roberts makes her home in Northern Thailand where she and her husband partner with an international school to "Serve the Servants." Their first missionary teaching assignment landed them in the remote bush of Alaska, which you can read about in her newly released book, Colliding with the Call. From tundra to tropics, her life of following Jesus has been nothing less than story-worthy, and she loves using her experiences to encourage others to connect deeply with God. You can often find her cleaning up Legos, cheering for their school's sports teams, or meandering their local produce market in search of mangosteen and lychee fruit.

Reviews

[Liz Black]

I have loved reading Catch the Rain by Corella Roberts.

I found myself captivated by the stories Roberts shares about her life both in Thailand and other parts of the world. I shed tears in the parts that invited me so deeply into her personal story.

What I love the most is with every story Roberts offers a gentle invitation for the reader to go deeper with Jesus. This is so much more than a good read. It's a devotional tool that will offer you purposeful moments to pause and reflect, or to 'catch the rain' as she poetically calls it.

Do yourself a favour and add this to your must read list, buy a copy for your sister, your Mom or your friends. It's a treasure worth sharing.

[Kristin lindeen]

"Our outward facade is so strong that we even fool ourselves. A bit of holy undoing might be exactly what we need."

I've been a Christian my "whole life"--and sometimes, it can feel a bit "ho hum", if you know what I mean. Corella Robert's newest book will definitely create a mess--a holy one--of your faith-walk, if you allow it to. As a pastor's wife and mom of four who also holds down a simultaneously fulfilling and exhausting job in the training industry, I am often tired. Spent. And left wondering how I'm supposed to find time and energy to connect with my Savior. A book like this helps to pave the way, shining a light on the path.

Roberts' stories are so poignant, and gives the reader the sweetest glimpse into her life on the other side of the world. Her words of truth and conviction to stop, rest, and renew in the Lord are a message so many of us desperately need to hear.

The reflection opportunities given at the end of each chapter are challenging, in a way that forces me to make time and space to reflect, dig deeper, and press in toward the Lord. If I'm totally honest, I'm still working on making that time. In the meantime, the stories and content are completely worth while, and I'm looking forward to going back through to wrestle more with some of the suggested activities.

You will not regret grabbing a copy of this book!

[Kelly Passchier]

I loved this book! Catch the Rain, by Corella Roberts, is beautifully and accessibly written, illustrated by stories from her own journey of soul renewal. Perfect for those seasons when we are feeling dry and weary, this book gently walks us through a journey of reflection on who God is and who we are in Him, drawing us towards the generous and gentle heart of the Father. At the end of each chapter, reflection questions invite us to respond and dive deeper into our own journey of soul restoration in practical ways. I read this book with smiles of recognition and tears of relief as these poignant reflections helped me to process what was going on in my soul and the spiritual practices led me by the hand into the arms of our gentle and compassionate Lord who enfolds us in His warm embrace and whispers His words of life and healing. I highly recommend reading this book and letting the grace and truth of Jesus minister to your soul as you encounter the Lord through its pages.

[Carolyn Watts]

In Catching the Rain, Corella Roberts offers us a vulnerable look into her journey from burnout into a much deeper relationship with the God who truly loves her and longs for her to rest in his love. The book gets richer and richer as we witness the author’s relationship with God deepen. It’s well worth reading simply for the joy of witnessing the author’s transformation into greater freedom and enjoyment of God. But it’s an even greater gift because of the rich storehouse of wonderfully thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter which are designed to help the reader grow in his or her own intimacy with God.

This book could be a great starting place for weary Christians who long to live richer, deeper lives of encounter with God. (Read it with your journal alongside and take time to pray through the reflection questions!)

[Amy Karum]

CATCH THE RAIN is a beautiful mix of practical insights and intimate invitations. Reading Cora’s vulnerable journey, combined with her loving encouragement, provided safety for me to explore my places of pain and burnout on the mission field. She reminded me that no amount of self-discipline or willpower will bring me to the intimacy I long for with the Lord. Her ability to communicate the vital need for the Spirit’s guidance along with the treasure trove of seasoned advice is invaluable. A must-read!

[Beth]

Ever since reading Corella's first non-fiction book, COLLIDING WITH THE CALL: WHEN FOLLOWING GOD TAKES YOU TO THE WILDERNESS, I've been hoping to learn what it was that got her to the other side of that wilderness trek. Now, at last, I have the answer.
This book is written from the heart of one who walked through the wilderness and once on the other side found that God had been there all along. CATCH THE RAIN is filled with practical applications of how the reader can draw closer to God as well.
One doesn't need to be a missionary or a minister to glean insight from this book. Even if you only read it for drawing encouragement from the author's personal stories, you will be blessed. But if you "bring your bucket", with time set apart to fully engage with one of the many reflection opportunities, your bucket will be filled!