"Before the Arrow Flies" Inspired by Psalm 144:1
 
“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”
— Psalm 144:1
 
Before the battle comes the preparation. “Before the Arrow Flies” is a reflection on the quiet, hidden seasons when God equips us for what lies ahead. It speaks to the holy tension between stillness and readiness—how the Lord trains our hands not in chaos, but in calm. This piece is for those who feel the weight of waiting, yet know they are being strengthened for a purpose.
 
This is a visual prayer for the warrior-hearted woman. Not one who wars in flesh, but in spirit—who knows her strength is not her own, but comes from the Rock who steadies her grip and sharpens her focus.
 
Rendered entirely in charcoal, the drawing captures a moment of poised strength: a woman’s hands carefully notching an arrow to the bowstring. The tension is not in action, but in anticipation—a sacred readiness.
 
The intricate bodice and bracer details draw inspiration from medieval attire, specifically ArmStreet’s “Archeress” etched bracer. These historical touches lend weight and authenticity to the image, rooting it in timelessness.
 
“Trained Hands” is more than a drawing—it’s a moment set apart, a call to remember that strength is forged in stillness, and our hands are trained by the One who knows every battle ahead.