AFFECTION

Inspired by Isaiah 49:15–16

In this piece, I sought to reflect the depth of God’s love through one of the strongest human bonds known to us — the affection between a mother and her child.

The embrace in this painting is not casual; it is protective. The child does not struggle to belong — he rests in security. His small hand reaches upward, not in fear, but in trust. The mother’s gaze carries strength, sacrifice, and an unspoken promise: “You are mine.”

Yet even this powerful earthly affection is only a shadow of something greater.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God asks a profound question: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands…” — Isaiah 49:15–16

A mother’s love is often considered the purest form of human affection. It nourishes, protects, and sacrifices without calculation. But God declares that His love surpasses even this. Where human affection may weaken under pressure, divine affection remains eternal. Where earthly memory may fade, God says, “I will not forget you.”

This painting invites the viewer to rest — to remember that we are held. Even in seasons of doubt, fear, or isolation, we are not abandoned. We are engraved, known, and secured in the heart of God.

The soft blending of the background represents life’s uncertainties. The firm embrace represents divine constancy. The child’s upward reach symbolizes faith — the instinctive response of the soul toward its Source.

“Affection” is a visual meditation on covenant love — love that feeds, love that carries, love that remembers.

Because before we ever loved Him, He first loved us.

Ernest Adoh – Zion Arts World

Renewing the Mindset