How to Grow Love for God in Daily Life & for Others

Last updated on May 27th, 2026 at 10:51 pm

Love can feel confusing—especially when the love we see on social media, TV, and movies looks nothing like the love God invites us to experience. Our culture often presents love as conditional, self-serving, or purely emotional. Some even believe love “just happens,” as if we have no choice in the matter.

But biblical love is deeper—steadfast, intentional, and rooted in Christ. And in many ways, it is also something we learn in the ordinary rhythms of life—through the work of our hands, through patience in daily living, and through the people we share our homes and days with.

On our homestead, love is not just something we talk about. It’s something we live. It shows up in early mornings, in tending animals, in showing up for one another when life feels heavy or inconvenient.

So what is real love, and how can we strengthen our love for God and others, even when life feels heavy?

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What Is Charity? (The Pure Love of Christ)

The love we ache for—that deep, steady, life-changing love—is charity. Scripture calls it “the highest, noblest, and strongest love.” Moroni teaches, “Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever.”

When we are kind to others, we experience God’s pure love within us. But how do we genuinely love others, and what does charity truly mean?

Love and charity are fundamentally the same. In 1 Corinthians 13:4–8, the Bible provides a clear description of love: it is patient, kind, and does not envy. True love does not elevate itself above others; it is honest, selfless, and enduring. Love does good and never fails.

In the old ways of living—before life became rushed and distant—love was often learned through shared work. It was carried in daily acts: preparing food, mending what was worn, caring for land and animals, and showing up for one another without needing recognition. In many ways, that same rhythm still teaches us today.

There are countless ways to demonstrate our love for God and one another, but do we actively and with real intent practice them?

Do we show these attributes of love to the people we live with? What about those at work or at school? How do we treat others when we go to the grocery store?

Love is not merely verbal. As it says in Matthew 15:8, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” We fall short of true love when we only express it through words. Many broken relationships arise because love is spoken but not lived—this includes our relationship with God.

We grow love through action. If we want to love our family or God more, we cannot simply say we love them; we must show it through what we do. God has told us, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” He has also said, “If ye love me, feed my sheep.” He does not only want our words—He desires to see our love lived out in action.

Long-Suffering: Allowing God to Shape Us

So how do we show our love for Him? One way is through long-suffering. This can be one of the most difficult aspects of love, alongside patience. I struggle with these virtues. Anyone who knows me—especially my husband—knows I struggle to wait. I want hard seasons to pass quickly, and I often expect myself to be perfect. I struggle to be patient with myself, and at times, with others.

However, studying this brought a new understanding: suffering can also mean allowing. When Christ endured mockery, flogging, a crown of thorns, and crucifixion, He allowed it. He submitted to God’s will even in the face of excruciating pain and sorrow. Yes, He suffered—but He did so willingly, which has changed how I view hard times.

Long-suffering doesn’t mean simply enduring pain for a long time. It means submitting to God’s will, trusting that “God gives us experiences that shall ultimately work for our good” (D&C 122:7).

In many ways, this feels like life on a homestead through the seasons. Winter does not rush spring. The soil does not hurry what God is growing beneath it. There is a steady, quiet trust in what cannot yet be seen, and a continuing of daily work anyway.

When we face difficult times without resisting them, we often find we can endure them more peacefully. God may not always remove our suffering, but He gives us strength to bear it—just as Christ bore His. He also offers tender mercies to comfort and guide us through those moments.

Kindness & Selflessness: Everyday Expression of God’s Love

I know that being kind to those who wrong or mistreat us is not easy. It is rarely pleasant. Yet selflessness is the foundation of genuine kindness, and one way we deepen our love for God.

In today’s world, selfishness is often normalized. Parents are encouraged to prioritize themselves above their children. Children learn manipulation to get what they want. People mock and persecute one another for differences. Because of this, the word “selflessness” can feel heavy or even discouraging.

It is hard to give of yourself. This is something I have wrestled with over the years as a mother.

However, selflessness is more than simply putting others first. “A selfless person is one who is more concerned about the happiness and well-being of another than about his or her own convenience or comfort, one who is willing to serve another when it is neither sought for nor appreciated, or one who is willing to serve even those whom he or she dislikes.” (H. Burke Peterson)

Kindness often shows up in the small, unseen rhythms of life—making a meal when no one asked, choosing patience after a long day, stepping outside to tend what depends on you, or helping carry a burden that isn’t yours to carry.

But selflessness does not mean abandoning ourselves. God does not ask us to lose our identity. Rather, He asks us to use the gifts and talents He has given us to bless others.

As it says in Luke 9:24, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” In this way, if we refuse charity and service, we risk losing the deeper purpose we were meant to walk in.

Think back to your happiest moments. Were they when you focused only on yourself, or when you served others—no matter how small the act?

When we turn away from the mirror and look outward, something changes. Our burdens often feel lighter when we help those around us and sit with the struggles of others. As Mosiah 2:17 says, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

One reason God places us here is so we can help one another. And often, comfort comes through those who have walked similar roads. In serving others, we are reminded that we are not alone in our own need.

God promises that He will not “leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:18). As we strive to cultivate the attributes of love, He is there—strengthening us, comforting us, and shaping us into something stronger than we could become on our own.

Invitation: Growing in Love Through Christ

I invite you to practice long-suffering, kindness, and selflessness, especially in the quiet, daily places life takes you. In the work of your hands, in your home, in the unseen moments no one else will notice.

I believe your love will grow, and your heart will become more whole and steady.

Our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, love you more perfectly than anyone. When we falter, He stands with open arms, even when we find it hard to love Him in return.

As we strive—with real intent—to live the attributes of charity, our love for God and others will deepen and strengthen.