soaringaboveitall.com

Author: rlaquanza@gmail.com

  • Unwarranted Incest

    Soaring Above It All Blog

    Unwarranted Incest — A Conversation with Evangelist Melba Robinson (Part 1)
    Soaring Above It All Blog

    Join us every second Tuesday of the month for real, raw, and restorative conversations that speak to the heart.
    This post recaps Part 1 of our June 10, 2025, episode, aired at 8:00 PM.

    Last Tuesday, we were blessed to have Evangelist Melba Robinson join us to share some of her powerful testimony—real life experiences that shaped who she is today.

    The episode was titled “Unwarranted Incest,” and Melba was honest, vulnerable, and spirit-led in how she shared the layers of her story.

    She began by sharing with us her childhood experiences. Melba was born to great parents and raised in a military family. As an Army brat, she traveled often, and she had a special bond with her sister. They loved playing together as kids. With a smile, Melba said, “I was a prissy little girl.”

    Even with all she’s been through, she reminded us:

    “All things were not bad.”
    “We had good times too.”

    That statement is so important. We need to remember that life can hold both joy and pain—and God is present in both.

    A Battle: Trichotillomania

    As a young child, Melba was diagnosed with Trichotillomania (pronounced trick-oh-till-oh-MAY-nee-uh), a mental health condition that causes an overwhelming urge to pull out one’s own hair—usually from the scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes.

    It’s not simply a bad habit. Trichotillomania is a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) and often a response to emotional distress or trauma.

    For Melba, it became a soothing mechanism—a way to numb herself when she felt overwhelmed or helpless. She explained that she’s a natural problem solver, and when she couldn’t “fix” something in her life, that frustration would trigger the pulling behavior.

    Is Trichotillomania a Trauma Response?

    Yes, it can be.

    While not always rooted in trauma, it’s often linked to:

    • Stress and anxiety
    • Emotional overwhelm
    • Past trauma or loss
    • The need to regain control

    For some, the act of pulling hair becomes a self-soothing behavior—similar to other compulsive actions people use to cope with deep, unresolved pain.

    How It’s Diagnosed and Treated

    Trichotillomania is classified under Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders in the DSM-5. Key symptoms include:

    • Repetitive hair pulling that causes noticeable hair loss
    • Repeated attempts to stop or control the behavior
    • Significant emotional distress or impairment in daily life

    Treatment options may include:

    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    • Habit Reversal Training (HRT)
    • Medication (such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety prescriptions)
    • Support groups or Christian counseling

    Compassion Through Experience

    Melba shared that, because of her past, she has developed a deep compassion for people who cope in different ways—through drugs, alcohol, or destructive behaviors. She understands what it means to be hurting and just trying to survive.

    She also spoke about how her innocence was taken, and in her later years, she discovered that unseen anger had been buried inside her for a long time.

    One of the most powerful things she said:

    “Sometimes we self-punish by hurting ourselves more than anyone else ever could.”

    Let that sit with you for a minute. How many of us are walking around with silent pain, responding to past wounds in ways we haven’t even named yet?

    ✍🏽 Journal Prompts to Help You Reflect

    • What parts of my story have I tried to numb, hide, or ignore?
    • In what ways have I punished myself for things that were never my fault?
    • How have I been coping—silently or visibly—with unresolved pain?
    • What would healing look like for me if I permitted myself to start?

    📖 Scripture & Truth from Melba’s Story

    • “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
    • “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3
    • “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” — Genesis 50:20

    🎧 Replay Available On facebook
    You’ll be able to rewatch this powerful conversation on Facebook or then on YouTube June 30, 2025. Stay tuned for the replay link and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

    Reflection Blog Podcast (1)Download

    💬 Let’s Continue the Conversation
    Has Evangelist Melba’s story touched a part of your heart? Leave a comment below with your thoughts or share your own moment of breakthrough. You never know who might be encouraged by your words.

  • Soaring Above It All Blog-Self-Pleasure VS. Purity

    On May 13, 2025, at 8:00 PM, we sat down with Evangelist Angela Nabriat for a powerful, transparent conversation on Soaring Above It All. Part I: The topic? What does it mean when God says, “I forgive you” Part II: And what happens when we say yes to God, but hold on to things that weaken our surrender?

    Evangelist Angela shared with honesty and boldness. She spoke to the struggles many face in singleness — especially the ones we don’t always talk about in church. She revealed how we often say we’re waiting on the Lord to send our husband, yet still leave a placeholder in our bed.

    That placeholder, as she bravely explained, came in the form of self-pleasure(sex toys that were battery operated) — a habit formed from sexual experiences before choosing abstinence or celibacy. She called it what it was: a temporary fix that actually trains our bodies to choose pleasure over purity. Her words hit deep:

    “The more we feed the flesh, the harder it is to submit our will to serve as pure vessels before the Lord.” Evangelist Nabrait

    Her honesty broke chains. The captives were set free, delivered just by hearing that they weren’t alone in the fight. She shared how it took years for the Holy Spirit to help her break free from those hidden habits — and how true healing didn’t happen overnight. But when it did, her life changed.

    Eventually, she met a man of God who honored her process. He courted her, proposed, and they are now married. But in her testimony, she confessed something we all needed to hear:
    Even after receiving the promise, she forgot the One who gave it.

    She admitted that once she had the man, she started putting God second — not intentionally, but gradually.

    I lost sight that God didn’t just bless me with a man — He blessed me with a testimony that was meant to lift Him up.

    📝 Journal Prompts

    • What are the “placeholders” I’ve allowed to remain while saying I’m waiting on God?
    • Am I truly surrendered, or have I let certain habits rule over my will to be pure?

    📖 Scripture Reflections

    • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 (KJV): “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.”
    • Romans 12:1 (KJV): “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

    🎥 Watch the Replay

    https://www.facebook.com/laquanza.robinson/videos/726759706447106 May 30, 2025 Youtube “Premiere”

    💬 Share Your Thoughts

    This blog is where the conversation continues.
    What resonated with you? What are you still wrestling with? Drop your thoughts or encouragement in the comments below — you never know who it might help. FREE journal pages BELOW!

    Reflection Blog PodcastDownload

  • When God Says “I Forgive You”

    Soaring Above It All Blog

    When God Says “I Forgive You” Last Tuesday night’s podcast conversation with Evangelist Angela Nabrait shook something loose in the spirit.

    It wasn’t just her words—it was her honesty, her journey, her healing. And I truly believe this is the beginning of some deep, necessary conversations that will help us all get free.

    Angela shared that as a little girl, she was sickly—so sick that she had frequent nosebleeds and had to stay indoors while other kids played outside. But when healing finally came, she ran, jumped, played—everything she had missed. She didn’t just play to catch up on lost time… she played because she had tasted restoration.

    But life kept handing her battles. She got pregnant young. And for years after, she lived under a cloud of “not enough”—not good enough, not strong enough, not capable enough. But it wasn’t the world telling her that—it was her own thoughts. Her own mind became the battlefield.

    Then came the unthinkable. Her son Michael, full of light and love, was taken at just 19 years old in a car accident. Angela spiraled into a deep depression for three months… until God sent someone her way. A woman who had lost two children in the same way. That divine meeting showed her she wasn’t alone.

    But there was something else buried—something even deeper than grief. In 1982, Angela had an abortion. She didn’t talk about it. She barely even let herself think about it. But years later, at a church service, a woman turned to her and said, “God told me to tell you—He forgave you for what happened in 1982.”

    Angela said she wept from her soul. It was the kind of cry that only comes when something buried finally sees light. The shame she carried—the quiet belief that maybe God took Michael because she had taken His son—was shattered by truth. God had forgiven her. Fully. Lovingly. Finally.

    This is just the start of the conversation. And trust me—there’s more.

    Key Takeaways from Angela’s Story:

    • Sometimes the most damaging voice is the one in our own head.
    • Grief can blind us to the truth of God’s grace.
    • God will send people to remind us that we’re not alone.
    • What we bury deep, God still sees—and He offers healing anyway.
    • Forgiveness is not a feeling. It’s the truth. And God already decided.

    Journal Prompts to Help You Process: Get your Journal or your notebook out. Check out the introduction to receive the prompted questions

    • What’s something I’ve buried that still needs healing?
    • Have I ever believed that God was punishing me? Where did that belief come from?
    • Who has God sent in my life to remind me I’m not alone?
    • What does it mean for me to truly receive God’s forgiveness?

    Scripture Reflections:

    • “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” — Psalm 103:12
    • “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1
    • “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9

    Catch the Replay
    Did you miss this powerful conversation? You can watch it now on Facebook. YouTube will be at a later date.

    https://www.facebook.com/laquanza.robinson/videos/726759706447106

    Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
    What spoke to you the most from Angela’s story? Drop a comment below or share a word of encouragement for someone who might still be carrying shame. You never know who might need it.

    This is only the beginning. Let’s keep healing—together.

    Reflection Blog QuestionsDownload

  • The Soaring Above It All with Laquanza blog introduction

    A powerful conversation on being single, to being courted and she’s married now. Includes journal prompts and a message of hope.

    soaring above it all podcast

    Every second Tuesday of the month, I go live with a new interview on Facebook Live @8:00p.m. Real people sharing real stories of faith, perseverance, and breakthrough.


    Soaring Above It All isn’t just a podcast. It’s a community. A space where we talk through the hard things, honor the journey, and glorify the God who carried us through.

    This blog was created for you — the listener who needs a moment to sit with what you just heard, reflect deeper, and engage with the message in a more personal way.

    🖤 Here’s what you’ll find after each episode:

    • A short recap of the interview and key takeaways
    • Journal prompt(s) to help you process the conversation
    • Scripture or truth points from the guest’s story
    • A link to the replay on Facebook and YouTube
    • A space to share your thoughts or encouragement in the comments

    But more than that, this blog is where we continue the conversation. The conversation continues after the lights and camera turn off.


    When the applause fades and the notifications stop buzzing, you’re left with silence.


    After you’re home alone and the kids are gone,
    that quiet space becomes a mirror you didn’t ask to look into.
    The empty feeling of your brokenness creeps into your very thoughts — uninvited, but familiar.


    It doesn’t care that you smiled today.
    It doesn’t care that you encouraged others.
    It waits for you — in the quiet, in the stillness — to remind you of what you haven’t yet healed.


    But here’s the truth: what tries to break you in silence can be rewritten in surrender.
    That’s why this space exists — not just for what we say in public, but for what still lingers in private.
    Because healing doesn’t stop when the mic cuts off.
    It begins when you’re brave enough to face what echoes in the quiet — and still choose to rise.


    It’s where stories settle into the soul. It’s where you can engage, reflect, and grow.

    Whether the guest’s story felt like your own or you heard something you didn’t know you needed, I invite you to stay connected.

    These journal pages were created to help you reflect after listening to Soaring Above It All with Laquanza. Take a quiet moment to sit with what spoke to you, and let your words make room for healing. We share our stories to empower others. Live beyond the things that can break the soul from being FREE. Let’s start here.

    Reflection Blog PodcastDownload