The Experience of God’s Love: Effects and Insights from Christian Practice Thesis

Abstract

Experiencing the love of God can help an individual overcome the numerous challenges and frustrations that are common in everyday life. In this study, the researcher was interested in investigating sources of the love of God, its recipients, and the spiritual, physical, and sociological effects.

Data was collected from both secondary and secondary data. Primary data was collected from a sample of members of three local churches. Data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively to achieve the goal of the study.

Findings show that although the love of God is meant for everyone, people experience it differently. It emerged that practicing Christians are likely to experience the love of God more often because of various reasons discussed in the paper. It is also evident that those who experience the love of God are not only likely to lead a moral life, but they are also more likely to assist those who are in need in society.

Introduction

Background and Definition of the Love of God

The greatest commandment in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testament, is love. In John 3:16, the Bible says, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’ (King James Version, 1769/2017). The verse is by far the most common bible verse at the very foundation of Christianity.

According to Pérez (2021), the faith that Christians have stems from the strong belief that God loves humanity. The verse demonstrates the level of love and that He was willing to subject His son to pain, suffering, and humiliating death at the hands of the same people that he seeks to redeem so that they could have everlasting life.

As a child, the verse mentioned above, and other similar verses, were used to help us understand the love of God. It demonstrated the unique sacrifice that God made for the benefit of humankind (Briganti et al., 2019). Love is often demonstrated through the sacrifice that one is willing to make.

A parent’s love for their children would be manifested in the kind of care that they offer. Oord (2019) explains that a parent would be willing to do anything within their powers to ensure that they feed, clothe, and offer shelter to their children. Many of these parents would take demeaning jobs just because they believe their children deserve a good life. They would forgo partying or other self-gratifying activities to put their children through school and prepare them for a better future. The same is the case when it comes to the love that God has for humanity.

At this stage, it is necessary to define the love of God. According to Hyun et al. (2020), the love of God refers to an unconditional, sacrificial, selfless, and infinite affection that the Almighty God has toward His creations, specifically toward human beings. As shown in this definition, the love of God is unconditional, which means that it can be experienced by everyone, even when they are sinners. God does not put conditions that have to be met for one to experience this form of love. As long as one opens up their heart and allows the spirit of the Lord to take control, one will experience this love.

The definition also states that this form of love is sacrificial. God loved the world so much that he decided to forgive humanity by sacrificing His only son so that people could live forever. For one to truly experience the love of God, one must start by appreciating the sacrifice that God made when He allowed His loved Son to go through pain and suffering (Briganti et al., 2019).

What is unique about this love is that the very people who were supposed to be saved by the coming of Jesus are the ones who subjected Him to pain, humiliation, and painful death. It would have been normal for God to punish humanity even further for their actions, but He chose to grant them everlasting life.

Love is also considered selfless and infinite in the definition given above. Some Christians and non-believers have argued that the omnipotent God who created and controlled everything on earth should have considered sacrificing Satan. They argue that this is so because he is the one who brought evil to the world instead of sacrificing His only Son, Jesus Christ.

However, Pérez (2021) explains that when one gives away something that they do not like, it is not a sign of selflessness and sacrifice. Doing so would be considered a relief to the giver because they are eliminating what they consider a burden to them. When God sacrificed His only Son, He demonstrated selflessness and love for humanity. It was an infinite love that had no boundaries, and that is why Christ had to die if that is what it took to save humanity.

Experiencing the love of God may be unique from one individual to another. Oord (2019) notes that an individual may experience the love of God through a prayer session and fasting. In such a case, the individual commits to communicating with God. They present their problems and those of their family to God and ask for forgiveness. The love of God is manifested not just by their ability to listen to what God wants them to do but also by going beyond what humans consider normal. During that period, they rarely feel hungry as they are mentally committed to intimate communication with the Lord.

Some people experience the love of God when they suddenly get the assistance that they direly need after making a prayer. Others believe that when reading the Bible, they get to appreciate how God loves His people and fights for them when they are faced with a formidable enemy.

Others feel that spending time in church and worshipping with others is the best way of experiencing the love of God. Irrespective of the way that one considers most effective, Christians need to understand and appreciate the love of God. In this paper, the primary goal is to explore the experience of the love of God.

Purpose of the Research

We live at a time when science and religion clash, and unfortunately, science seems to be winning. Hyun et al. (2020) argue that science and religion should not be considered two opposing forces where one has to emerge as the winner, and the other must then be completely disregarded.

Science is playing a critical role in ensuring the overall success of the global community. Technological advancements in fields such as communication and transport have transformed the world into a global village where people easily interact with one another irrespective of their geographic location. Advancements in the field of medicine have enhanced life expectancy and quality of life.

The importance of science cannot be ignored, even in the field of religion. The Bible has been made available in almost every language around the world because of advanced technologies. Digital Bibles are making the lives of Christians easier than they were in the past.

The clash between religion and science has existed for thousands of years. Some scholars argue that the clash was started by powerful but rigid religious leaders of the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment. Giordano Bruno is one of the early Italian philosophers who were tried and executed for holding beliefs that went against the Catholic faith.

Galileo Galilei was another great scientist in the Enlightenment Age whose works raised controversy and earned him hatred among religious leaders in Italy, especially Pope Urban VIII and Cardinal Francesco Barberini (Fernández-Santos & Colomer, 2020). Although he was not murdered, the Roman church denied him the opportunity to be buried next to his father’s grave because of his revolutionary ideas. During these dark ages, many people whose ideas contradicted the teachings of the Bible were executed, sent into exile, or excommunicated from the church.

The events that happened in Germany during the Second World War also put into question the concept of love of God and forgiveness, as taught in the Bible. Pérez (2021) argues that the rhetoric and propaganda of Hitler were not sufficient to facilitate the holocaust. Many Germans willingly participated in the mass murders of Jews because they felt strong hatred toward them. Unfortunately, the majority of those who took part in the arrest and execution of the Jews were Christians (Soyer, 2021). Some justified their action with the belief that the Jews were responsible for the unlawful arrest, persecution, and execution of Jesus Christ. As such, they deserved to die for their sins.

These historical events have put into question the practice of Christianity and how people need to relate with one another. It has also put in question the need to embrace tolerance even when faced with an environment where the views of others strongly contradict those of an individual.

This study is important because it helps Christians to relearn how to experience the love of God amid the confusion. People are no longer aware of how they need to experience God’s love. Society today is full of hatred and confusion despite the diversity in our communities.

Cases where a few radical Muslims organize and attack innocent people, leading to mass deaths and claiming to do so in the name of God, are confusing (Briganti et al., 2019). It creates hatred and the desire to retaliate among the victims of the attack or those who feel they are targeted. Some Christians even feel that the teachings of Jesus about forgiving the enemy and turning the other cheek may not be a solution in the face of existential threat.

The pain and suffering that people go through in society have also made some people question the love of God. In a capitalistic country like Canada, it is common to find the very rich having resources that they cannot consume in their entire life or the lives of their children and grandchildren.

At the same time, the poor in the same society cannot meet their basic needs and are forced to sleep in the streets. It is so difficult to convince a homeless man who sees the excesses of the rich that God loves them. Such individuals feel that the system is skewed against them and the divine forces act in the favor of the rich at their expense (Hyun et al., 2020).

Others have lost faith in the love of God because of the pain that they go through because of sickness. Medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, cluster headaches, herpes zoster, and arthritis are some of the diseases that can cause immense pain to the patient. When going through such pain, the individual may forget the love that God has for them. They may argue that God may not allow His loved ones to go through such immense pain.

This study seeks to reaffirm the love of God toward humanity. The very foundation of Christianity is the realization that God loves them. Some people may be more financially endowed than others because of the economic system (Briganti et al., 2019).

However, that should not be used as the primary measure of the love of God. Misfortunes may befall a believer, but that should not be interpreted as a situation where an individual has fallen from God’s grace. Diseases may ravage a Christian, but it should not be considered that God has forsaken the individual.

A true Christian should understand that even in the Bible, some of the most loyal and loved men of God went through trials and temptation. However, the love of God would finally prevail, and they would experience joy once again.

The unity that is needed in places of worship can only be achieved when people experience the love of God. The experience will enable them to understand the need to love one another and avoid actions that may deliberately harm others. They will learn the significance of making personal sacrifices for the sake of creating a peaceful and sustainable community.

Aim and Objectives

When conducting research, it is necessary to clearly define the aim and specific objectives that should be achieved by the end of the study. The primary aim of this research is to explore the experience of the love of God. The study investigated how different people experience the love of God in different settings. The following are the specific objectives that the researcher had to achieve by the end of the study:

• To determine the sources of the love of God.
• To investigate the recipients of the love of God.
• To discuss the spiritual effects of the love of God.
• To assess the physical effects of the love of God.
• To determine the sociological effects of the love of God.

To achieve the aim and objectives outlined above, the researcher collected data from both primary and secondary sources. Secondary data enabled the researcher to understand what other scholars have published in relation to this topic. Primary data made it possible to address the knowledge gaps in this field of study. A detailed explanation of the data sources, methods used to collect data, and the analysis method are explained in the methodology section of this report.

Outline and the Organization of the Study

This paper is structured into five chapters, each addressing various aspects of the report. Chapter 1 provides the introduction to the topic, providing background information about the experience of the love of God and the significance of the study. The chapter also outlines the aim and objectives of the study.

Chapter 2 of the report is a detailed review of the literature. It is in this chapter that the researcher reviews what other scholars have found out in this study. It also explains the relevant theories that can help in understanding the love of God.

The third chapter of the report is the methodology, where the researcher discusses how secondary and primary data was obtained. It explains the methods used to collect data, how it was analyzed, and the principles that were observed in the entire process. It also explains ethical considerations that had to be observed when conducting the project.

The fourth chapter presents the analysis of primary data and a discussion of the findings. In the analysis section, the researcher discusses findings from primary data analysis. In the discussion section, the researcher integrates findings made from both primary and secondary data sources.

In the final chapter, the researcher presents a summary of findings made from the love of God. A list of all the secondary sources used in the report is provided in the literature review section. The report also has appendices where the data collection instrument used when collecting primary data is presented.

Literature Review

Introduction

The previous chapter has explained the aim of the study and the rationale. In this chapter, the researcher is keen on exploring the literature to understand what other scholars have written on this topic. The Bible is the primary source of information when it comes to explaining the love of God. Other theological scholars have extensively explored this topic in the context of emerging trends and practices around the world (Briganti et al., 2019). It is necessary to review their findings to avoid duplicating information that is already available.

The review of the literature also enables a researcher to develop background information about a given topic before commencing the process of primary data collection. This chapter will explain how people experience the love of God, different factors that may limit or motivate the experience of the love of God, and specific steps that individuals may take to enhance their ability to experience the love of God. The chapter also discusses various theories that can help in understanding the love of God.

Experiencing the Love of God

The love of God manifests in our lives in different ways. Hyun et al. (2020) explain that the love of God toward humanity can be experienced in many ways. One can assume that the success they have at the workplace or in school and the good life that they enjoy is attributed to their effort and intellect. They do not realize and appreciate the significant role that God plays in making things happen in their lives.

In a world that is full of sinners and diseases, it is common for some people to experience some form of misfortune. In the Bible, there are cases where some of the prominent men of God were subjected to pain and suffering (Oord, 2019). This situation acts as a reminder that the peace, joy, good health, and success that we enjoy are directly attributed to the love that good has towards us. In this section of the paper, the researcher seeks to discuss the different ways through which people experience the love of God.

Through Prayer

Prayer remains one of the most important tools for communicating with God and experiencing His love. In the past, it was possible for humankind to directly communicate with God and get a direct response. When Adam ate the forbidden fruit, God directly expressed his displeasure and rebuked him. When Cain killed Abel, God revealed himself to him and sent him to a foreign land. He cried to the Lord in Genesis 4:14 and said, “Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me,” (King James Version, 1769/2017). However, through this communication, God reminded Cain that he would protect him in the foreign land.

In Genesis 4:15, God told Cain, “Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over” (King James Version, 1769/2017). Abraham would directly communicate with God or sometimes rely on His angels. Moses was in constant communication with God as he led the Israelites from slavery in Egypt back to the Promised Land (Pink, 2019).

These are instances that demonstrate that the best way of communicating with God is through prayer. These great men of God would directly explain to God the challenges that they face and ask for His guidance. God would respond to them and direct them on ways that they would overcome their problems. He gave Moses directions that he had to follow to ensure that the Israelites were released from Egypt (Syarifuddin & Azizy, 2019). He followed these directives, and finally, Pharaoh had to let them go.

In the New Testament, Jesus emphasized the significance of prayer as a tool needed to communicate with God and experience His love. In Luke 11:1, the bible says, “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples” (King James Version, 1769/2017). Jesus went ahead and explained to them how they needed to pray. In that prayer, it was evident that one needs to start by exalting the name of God, thanking Him for what He has done before making a request.

It is through this direct communication with God that one gets an opportunity to reflect upon the good things that God has done for them. They then directly thank God, explaining how his grace has been sufficient for them. It is also through prayer that one can ask God to bless and protect others.

For an individual to genuinely pray for another person is an indication of love (Hyun et al., 2020). When one’s heart is filled with love to the extent that one prays for others, then one will also experience the love of God. They will have to believe that God loves them so much that He will listen to their prayer and bless those who have been mentioned in the prayer.

God emphasizes the need for humankind to pray and act upon their prayer. When one requests God, they must take steps towards achieving what they need, and God will grant them grace to achieve it (Briganti et al., 2019). In James 2:17, the bible says, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (King James Version, 1769/2017).

One has to make an effort and then believe that God will grant them the energy and knowledge to achieve the needed success. Every time one makes a prayer, Jesus encourages them to start by appreciating the prayers that God has granted them. They have to remember the prayers they made in the past and how they were able to realize them. Doing so emphasizes to them the fact that God loves them and that with faith and commitment, they will continue enjoying His love.

Through Worship

One can experience the love of God through worship. According to Pink (2019), praise and worship are intentional decisions to spend time with God. An individual reflects upon the good that God has done in their lives and the lives of their loved ones. They take the opportunity to praise and thank Him for His continued support and guidance. It enabled a Christian to experience the presence of God uniquely.

Some people may speak in tongues during praise and worship when deeply filled with the Holy Spirit. Although those around them may not understand what they are saying, these individuals can have a personal conversation with God during such sessions. The process enables these individuals to experience the love of God. The fact that God has granted them the opportunity to speak in tongues is a way of experiencing the love of God.

When Christians come together to praise the Lord and worship Him, they get to remind one another of His greatness and the blessings that He has given them. Oord (2019) explains that people tend to go through numerous challenges that would make them feel the love of God has departed them. Sickness, frustrations, loss of employment, loss of a loved one, and an attack may be some of the unfortunate incidences that may make an individual feel that they are no longer in God’s favor.

However, when these individuals congregate with the primary goal of praising and worshiping the Lord, they will be making a deliberate decision to focus on His blessings. They will ignore the numerous misfortunes that may have befallen them and praise the Lord for every little blessing they have gotten. In such a situation, one would realize that instances where God has been faithful to them far outweigh cases where they were hit by misfortunes. The session offers them the opportunity to thank God and experience His love by focusing on His blessings.

Through Reading the Bible

The Bible remains the most important book to any Christian. Pink (2019) explains that the Holy Scripture goes beyond telling the story about the creation of the earth, the early servants of God, and the spread of Christianity. It is a critical guide to Christians on the kind of life they are expected to lead and how they need to relate with others. One of the ways through which reading the Bible may help an individual to experience the love of God is by understanding how He sometimes blesses his people.

Israelites suffered in the wilderness for 40 years on their way from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land (Oord, 2019). Many of them felt that God had forsaken them and even blamed Him for having taken them away from slavery. They felt that it would have been better to die in slavery than in the wilderness. They forgot about all the good deeds that the Lord had done for them and the many miracles that led to their release from slavery.

Despite the ungratefulness and rebellion of the Israelites, especially when they decided to worship idols, God finally led them to the Promised Land. We also experience similar predicaments as Christians. We may be praying for God’s favor as we struggle with our daily activities.

However, we may not realize that there is something we are doing that displeases the Lord, hence delaying his blessings. It may be sabotaging a colleague’s efforts at work, being a false witness, lying, stealing at work, failing to tithe, or having an unforgiving act. Such issues may make the Almighty feel that we are not ready for his blessings, and as such, He may be holding us back from the greatness that we deserve.

Sometimes, people may not even realize that their actions do not please God. For instance, when one decides not to take revenge when they are wronged but at the same time decides not to forgive their attacker and keep the incident in their heart, they may be withholding God’s blessings. They may consider themselves righteous and worthy of God’s blessings because they did not take revenge without realizing that they failed to follow the guidance of the Lord.

In Mark 11:25, the Bible says, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too” (King James Version, 1769/2017). It means that it may not be enough for someone not to take revenge when they have been wronged. They need to forgive individuals who acted in a way that directly or indirectly hurt them. As Christians, these are requirements that one may not understand if they do not spend time reading the bible.

The scripture enables an individual to realize that the love of God is always around us, and because of it, we can overcome numerous challenges. For an individual who might have thought that their blessings had taken long to come and that possibly the Lord had forsaken them, reading the bible would enable them to experience the love of God (DeMuth, 2020). They will realize that they may have been responsible for the delay of their blessings.

By reading the book and understanding why men of God also suffered from their mistakes, they can assess their lives and identify specific actions they made, which can directly be attributed to their delayed success. They get to realize that the love of God never departed them. On the contrary, their specific actions or inactions might have made it difficult for the love to manifest itself in a way that they would desire. They will learn to change their ways and to lead a life that makes it easy for God to bless them.

Through Attending Church

One of the best ways of experiencing the love of God is by attending church regularly. Oord (2019) explains that people tend to go through many challenging challenges at work, in their homes, or in many other activities that they undertake. At least once every week, they get the opportunity to interact with other faithful in the church with the primary goal of praising and worshiping the Lord. For some people, this is the perfect opportunity for them to escape the pain and suffering in marriages and places of work. It is the one time that they have to focus on the love of God and count the many blessings that He has granted them (Roper, 2019). They consider the church as a refuge where they get spiritual nourishment at a time when they feel like they should give up in life.

Church offers one of the best support systems in the current society. The first support system is the pastoral support system. During the service, the priest is expected to give the congregation the spiritual nourishment that they need to overcome the normal challenges that they face in life. They will remind the church about the love of God and how sometimes it manifests in ways that one may not expect. Preaching about the challenges of great men of God and relating them with challenges that congregants go through in their daily lives is a reminder that the love of God still surrounds them even in instances when they feel they have been forsaken.

The priest is the head of the church, and they are expected to assist their congregants in many ways. After church, a congregant may want to talk to the priest about a specific issue that is affecting their families or work (Briganti et al., 2019). They will get guidance and support to overcome the challenge.

In church, one may belong to a prayer team or group that can meet in the middle of the week for prayer and worship regularly. They form a community, which, in itself, is a powerful support system. Although the primary goal of such a community of prayer warriors may be to regularly come together and worship the Lord, they also get to offer assistance whenever a colleague needs it (Hyun et al., 2020).

A member of the community may be sick, jobless, homeless, or suffering from a specific challenge. It is common for such faithful to come together and find a way of helping their member emotionally, spiritually, and through financial donations. Such actions profoundly emphasize the love of God for humanity.

It has become a common practice for many churches to organize community service where the primary focus is to help the less fortunate in society. DeMuth (2020) notes that during such forums, which may happen once every month, members of the church visit the homeless and donate to them food, clothing, or any other material and emotional support that they may need. It is the time that the congregants get to practice love for one another as they are taught in the Bible.

By expressing love to the less fortunate and experiencing the joy that such assistance brings to the affected, they get to understand how much God loves them. The gratitude that they receive from the recipients of the donations gives them joy and reminds them of how the love of God can be manifested in our lives in different ways.

By Appreciating Nature

Nature can present a perfect opportunity for an individual to experience the love of God. A study by Castaldelli-Maia et al. (2022) shows that in Canada, 81.65% of the total population lives in cities and large urban centers. Such an individual does not get the opportunity to experience the beauty of nature.

Studies have shown that spending some time in forests, waterfalls, large water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and oceans, or generally interacting with nature can enable one to experience the love of God. Such an activity may be meant to relieve an individual of tension that is common in a crowded urban setting. It may also be an opportunity to stay away from pressure at work.

However, it also enables a person to interact with nature and appreciate the work of God. Seeing the beauty that nature offers and understanding the fact that God gave man the power to live in it and exploit it as he considers necessary brings out the love of God. It also enables an individual to understand the important responsibility that God gave humankind to protect the environment.

Spending time in a natural environment offers an individual the opportunity to meditate. When one is in the forest, on the top of a mountain, or in any other natural environment where there is minimal disturbance, one can easily medicate. They get to reflect upon their life, events that have happened, and how they have overcome numerous challenges. They get to appreciate how God has enabled them to achieve success in their academics, career, or family life (Kegler, 2019).

Those who have felt that the love of God has departed them will get the opportunity to identify various instances that will show them that the Almighty is still guiding them at every step. In many cases, Jesus went to the mountain or wilderness to pray because it offered him a unique opportunity to communicate directly with His Father. When Moses wanted to communicate with God when the Israelites were moving from Egypt to Canaan, he would go to the mountain alone (DeMuth, 2020). These are cases that demonstrate that sometimes one needs to be deep into nature to effectively communicate with God and experience his love.

Through Community Work and Acts of Kindness

Community work and acts of kindness can be an effective way of experiencing the love of God. According to Weston (2020), community service is one of the most therapeutic activities, irrespective of one’s social standing or level of wealth. When one focuses on helping the needy in whichever capacity, one will constantly receive appreciation.

According to Castaldelli-Maia et al. (2022), 235,000 people experience homelessness every year, especially in major urban settings. Most of these individuals lack the basic needs that a human being needs to survive. When one can sacrifice the little resources that they have and spend time visiting these people and offering them food, clothes, money, or any form of material and emotional support, it will be of benefit to both the recipient and the giver.

In Acts 20:35, the Bible says, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work, we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive,” (King James Version, 1769/2017). Whoever helps those who are in need will be abiding by the teachings of Jesus Christ, which is a way of experiencing the love of God.

Community work and acts of kindness offer individuals an opportunity to appreciate the blessings that God has granted them. It is common for people to compare themselves with others and feel inadequate. An individual living in a wealthy suburb may not understand the unique pain and suffering that people on the other side of the world go through (Oord, 2019). They may feel that God has not blessed them as much as their neighbor, who has a bigger house, a better car, or even a private jet. A heart full of complaints and lacks satisfaction may not experience the love of God.

When they get the opportunity to visit the homeless and those in dire need of assistance, they would appreciate their blessings. Listening to such individuals and what they have to do to survive enables them to realize that they live in abundance. They will learn to thank God and to feel that they are loved.

Such acts of kindness also eliminate or significantly reduce the crime rate in a community. The poor who would have been forced to steal or rob a rich person to avoid starvation will not have a reason to do so (May, 2019). Besides having food to eat that has been donated to them, they will also be appreciative of the effort and kindness of the richer members of society. They will be reminded that these individuals are also committed to helping the less fortunate in the community. Everyone benefits from the reduced cases of crime, and it enhances the ability of all to experience the love of God.

Theoretical Perspective

Experiencing the love of God may be influenced by various forces. According to DiLeo (2019), some events may enable an individual to have an intense experience of the love of God. When specific things happen in one’s life, they feel that such blessings were brought to them because of the strong love that the Almighty has for them.

This is caused by the general belief that good things happen in our lives because of the blessings of the Lord. On the other hand, some incidences can occur in one’s life that may limit their ability to experience the love of God. It is common for people to face challenges of varying degrees in life.

When believers face such challenges, they will pray to the Lord, asking that the weight be lifted off their shoulders. It may be sickness, lack of resources, an attack, the need to get employment, or any other need. When a solution fails to emerge within the period they expect it to, the individual might feel that they are no longer loved. They may feel that the favor of the Lord has departed them. In this section, the researcher will discuss various forces that may foster and those that may hinder the ability of an individual to experience the love of God, integrating various theoretical and philosophical concepts.

Forces That Foster Experiencing the Love of God

Many forces may enhance the ability of an individual to experience the love of God. Some scholars have developed theoretical concepts that help in explaining these forces. Durkheim’s theory of religion defines religion as “a system of practices and beliefs relative to sacred things, i.e., things set apart and forbidden- beliefs and practices which unite in one single moral community” (Elwell, 2003). In this theory, anything that unifies society tends to enhance the ability to experience the love of God. When one experiences the love of humanity, especially those who are close to them, they will automatically experience the love of God.

In 1 John 4:20, the Bible says, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen,” (King James Version, 1769/2017). One can’t express hatred towards others and claim to experience the love of God.

Calamities may sometimes bring people together and enable them to experience the love of God. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, everybody realized the need to work together to address a common problem that faced the global community (Lennox, 2020). Race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, political affiliation, or any other demographical factor was not given any consideration (King James Version, 1769/2017). The primary goal was to find a solution to the problem.

When people work together in an environment where there is no prejudice or negative judgment, they feel loved. They get to realize that when we work as a unit towards a common goal, we get to overcome the numerous challenges that we may face in life. It is during such times when the best of humanity is brought out. It is also in such instances that one would experience the love of God.

When one’s prayer is answered, one gets to experience the love of God. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is an excellent case study of a prayer being answered and the gratitude that comes with it. For many years, Hannah was unable to bear a child. She was ridiculed by many people who viewed her as a barren woman (Nawls, 2022). However, that did not stop her from worshiping and praising God. She felt that if she remained faithful to Him, the love of God would finally be manifested in her life. She did not pay attention to the negativities that were directed towards her.

When she finally had her son, Samuel, she felt the love of God. In 1 Samuel 2:1, the bible says, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation” (King James Version, 1769/2017). She praises the Lord and explains her joy. Through this answered prayer, Hannah experiences the love of God uniquely.

Forgiveness enhances one’s ability to experience the love of God. In the Bible, it is written that the price of sin is death. However, there are cases where God forgave those who committed some of the worst sins.

A good example is when King David committed adultery with Uriah’s wife and proceeded to kill him and take his wife. God was angry at David and promised dire consequences for the sin. However, King David continued praying and asking for forgiveness from God (DeMuth, 2020). He did not stop worshiping God and acknowledged that what he had done was wrong before God and men.

In Psalms 86:12-13, David says, “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol,” (King James Version, 1769/2017). When his sins were forgiven, David experienced the intense love of God. He knew that he deserved to be punished, but the love of God was greater.

When one is forgiven at work, at home, in school, or at church for a mistake that would justify a punishment, one would feel loved. They realize that the main reason why they are forgiven is that their love for them is stronger than their need to punish them.

Forces That Limit Experiencing the Love of God

It is necessary to admit that there are cases where one’s ability to experience the love of God may be affected. Oord (2019) believes that one’s ability to experience the love of God significantly depends on the state of the mind.

When one is at peace, one can easily focus on how God has been gracious to them and their family. They begin to appreciate the little successes they have made in life over time and the role that they believe God has played. However, sometimes, one’s mind may not be at peace.

Conflict is one of the common inhibitors of an individual’s ability to experience the love of God. When there is a verbal or even physical exchange that one has with another person, one’s focus will entirely change from the love of God to the desire to revenge or inflict pain on another. The gracious heart of such an individual will be transformed into that of a person who is at war with self and others.

May (2019) explains that whenever one develops a desire to hurt another person, for whatever reason, they move away from the love of God. They are fully aware that one of the greatest commandments that Jesus gave to his followers and the world was that we need to love others just as much as we love ourselves.

It is not rational for individuals to make deliberate decisions and make efforts to harm themselves, even when they have made mistakes. In many cases, they would want to be forgiven for such mistakes, and others would even blame others or the systems for such mistakes just to ensure that they forgive themselves.

Kegler (2019) defines blame game theory as a situation where people blame others for a mistake that has occurred even when they are aware that they played a role. They are quick to diminish the role that they played in creating the problem and magnify the mistakes of others. The goal is to convince themselves and others around them that they are not to blame. It demonstrates the desire of such an individual to forgive themselves.

However, the same people may find it difficult to forgive those who have wronged them. They develop the desire to inflict some form of pain to pass a message or have a sense of satisfaction.

When the heart is filled with hatred and vengefulness, it is almost impossible to experience the love of God. Roper (2019) believes that hatred is a manifestation of an evil heart. Such individuals may claim to be practicing Christians, but their actions would demonstrate otherwise. To hurt others because of hatred, one would need to move from the state of mind where one appreciates the goodness of God to a dangerous state of revenge.

In Deuteronomy 32:35, the Bible says, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near, and their doom rushes upon them” (King James Version, 1769/2017).

The same message is emphasized in Romans 12:17, where God says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone” (King James Version, 1769/2017). God does not want His people to be vengeful. It means that those who commit to hurting others, even if they were hurt by such individuals, would be going against God’s teachings. In such a state of mind, it is not possible to experience the love of God.

Disease and misfortunes can be other factors that may limit the experience of the love of God. Many Christians tend to be grateful to God when they are in good health. They easily experience the love of God in abundance and in good health. However, when misfortunes strike, they feel that God has abandoned them.

In the Bible, the story of Job is given, where people felt that he was in favor of the Lord during the period when he was successful. However, his fortunes turned, and he lost everything except his wife (May, 2019). Everyone, including the wife, felt that the presence of the Lord had departed him. They told him that his continued loyalty to God was serving him no purpose.

In Job 2:9-13, the bible says, “His wife said to him, ‘Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!’ He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman,” (King James Version, 1769/2017). It is rare to have people of such strong faith, even in times of pain.

As told in the story of Job, many people believed that when faced with such levels of pain, it makes no sense to believe in God. Oord (2019) observes that it is common for those who are in immense pain to feel that God has forsaken them. They believe that God is the source of good health, and the fact that they are in pain may be an indication that they have lost the favor of the Almighty. When they focus on the pain and misfortunes instead of the possibility of overcoming these negative forces, then it may not be possible for them to experience the love of God.

Political differences can be a reason that can deny an individual the ability to experience the love of God. Pérez (2021) explains that the United States has one of the most heated political rivalries in the developed world. For some people, achieving political success is a matter of life and death. People would deliberately lie, attack, and malign others just to win a political contest. In their mind, they are aware that what they are doing is wrong, but the desire to win outweighs their ethical needs. It is almost impossible for such an individual to experience the love of God. They use ‘the end justifies the means’ philosophy to ensure that they achieve their goal, regardless of the means.

Managing the Negative Forces

Negative forces may limit the ability of an individual to experience the love of God. It is our responsibility to ensure that we eliminate or manage the negative forces that may affect the ability to experience the love of God.

Briganti et al. (2019) believe that one of the ways of managing negative forces is to associate with the right people. We are advised not to discriminate against others based on their religion, gender, race, sexual orientation, or any other demographical classification. However, sometimes it becomes necessary to avoid associating with individuals whose views and philosophies towards life are so different that avoiding arguments becomes almost impossible.

It is okay for a Christian to interact with people of other religious groups within society to address specific common challenges. However, one must understand that if the association degenerates into a comparison of different religious groups to determine which is superior, then negative arguments and sentiments may easily arise. One would feel spiritually hurt when engaging in such arguments. To experience the love of God, one may need to pray together and closely associate with people who share the same faith.

Embracing forgiveness is another way through which one can manage negative forces. In today’s society, numerous factors may make one angry. It may be a case of road rage, unnecessary prejudicial statements, unfair practices at work, or any other thing that other people do know that is legally or ethically wrong (Kegler, 2019).

Some people choose to keep such painful memories at heart for a long time, probably looking for a way to get revenge. Doing so denies an individual the opportunity to heal quickly from the trauma and to focus on other important things in life.

Forgiveness benefits not only the offender but also the offended. The forgiver can let go of the negative energy that would deny them peace of mind. The ability of the offended to move on eliminates the resentment that limits the capacity to experience the love of God.

Talking about things that are affecting one can help in managing negative forces. Some people prefer keeping their pain and frustration to themselves, silently trying to find a solution. The problem with such a strategy is that it may take longer to solve the problem, and the longer it takes to address it, the more one would lack peace of mind.

Sharing problems means that one opens additional avenues for addressing them (Oord 2019). The person may have the ability to solve the problem or may know a person who can help. Even if they cannot directly help in solving the problem, they may offer the comfort that one needs to overcome the situation they are encountering.

Managing one’s health is another approach to eliminating negative forces. There are cases where one’s ability to experience the love of God is negatively affected by bad health. A time that one should have spent praising the Lord and communicating with Him over various issues would be spent in pain and suffering because of the disease.

Heinämaa (2020) also argues that cases often arise when one feels that they are no longer loved by God because of their health condition. To avoid such negative feelings, it is necessary to ensure that one remains in good health. Embracing regular exercise, maintaining a good diet, and going for early diagnosis and treatment of conditions that may emerge would be necessary. Such steps would significantly reduce the chances of one falling sick, an event that may negatively affect one’s intimate relationship with God.

Being a Blessing to Oneself and the Community

The love of God can be upon us if our actions are aligned with his teachings. It is necessary to understand that sometimes, our actions make it difficult for us to experience His love. May (2019) explains that we need to start by being a blessing to ourselves.

There is a general belief that the love of God can only manifest in our lives in the form of blessings such as success in our education, at work, or in our families. This belief is true because the bible says that God grants his children the best that the world has to offer. However, some individuals deliberately sabotage their ability to experience the love of God through such blessings. When one deliberately abuses drugs and alcohol, they make it impossible for them to succeed in life.

God blesses those who believe and work towards what they desire. Abuse of drugs and alcohol limits the ability of a person to work and reason. The time they need to work towards their goal would be spent in activities that directly affect their lives. They may end up losing their job or families or dropping out of school because of addiction. Their actions would have directly led to their inability to experience the love of God.

One must learn to be a blessing to themselves to ensure that one can experience the love of God. Regular exercise and taking care of the food that one takes is a way of being a blessing to oneself. Those are deliberate measures that one takes to ensure that one remains healthy and energetic enough to serve the Lord and mankind. They create a path through which they can achieve success in their endeavors.

Avoiding the abuse of drugs and alcohol is another way through which one can be a blessing to themselves. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God” (King James Version, 1769/2017). By understanding that one’s body is holy, one would avoid ravaging it through constant abuse of drugs and alcohol, which can lead to the emergence of numerous health problems.

Being a blessing to oneself can also be realized through hard work and remaining focused. When one believes that God’s love can best be manifested through success in life, they have to work towards the same success. The Bible says that God grants us our wishes, and the same bible also notes that faith without action is dead (Roper, 2019). It means that one cannot expect God to grant them their wish if they are not doing anything towards the same.

By working hard and remaining focused on achieving a specific goal, individuals will put themselves on the path towards success and make it easy for them to receive blessings from the Lord. They realize that they have to remain fully in control of their lives to get the blessings of the Lord.

Experiencing the love of God can be manifested by one being a blessing to others in their lives. According to Heinämaa (2020), Christians need to understand that they are God’s representatives in various settings. When a poor man cries to the Lord for a meal, it may not be possible for an angel to deliver the same to them. Instead, the blessings for such an individual would come in the form of another man who comes to give them something to eat.

One must realize that by being a blessing to others, they are directly responding to a prayer that the individual made. Through them, God will be manifesting His love to the less fortunate. The process in itself would bring a significant level of satisfaction to the giver (Kegler, 2019). They would also be reminded that their blessings would be delivered to them by another person who is sent by the Lord.

Methodology

Introduction

The previous chapter has provided a detailed review of the literature about experiencing the love of God. It emerged that people experience the love of God differently. It was necessary to collect primary data from different people to understand how they experience the love of God.

Nind et al. (2020) advise that when conducting research, it is often important to collect data from both primary and secondary data sources whenever it is possible. Secondary data makes it possible to understand what other scholars have found out in the field of study. In this context, it would enable the researcher to understand what other authors believe when it comes to the concept of the love of God.

By reviewing books, journal articles, and other reliable publications, it becomes possible to understand their perspective on this issue. A review of the literature also makes it possible to avoid duplication of already existing knowledge, as Sawatsky et al. (2019) observe.

The primary goal of any research project is to introduce new knowledge in a given field of study. It may also involve addressing the possible conflicts in the existing knowledge body. It is only through a thorough review of the literature that a researcher can understand what has been published and the gaps that need to be addressed. It helps redefine the focus of the study to address the knowledge gaps specifically.

When a review of the literature is complete, it becomes necessary to collect primary data. Clark et al. (2021) explain that primary data should specifically focus on addressing the identified knowledge gaps in the field of study. In this chapter, the researcher seeks to explain the method and steps taken to collect primary data. The chapter explains the research philosophy that guided the assumptions made in the study, the research approach, and the strategy that was used.

The chapter then explains the data collection method, specifically addressing issues relating to consent, sampling and sample size, questionnaire design, a pilot study, and the actual process of primary data collection. It then explains the approach taken to analyze primary data, validity and reliability issues, limitations and delimitations in the study, and ethical considerations that had to be observed when collecting and processing data.

Research Philosophy

The first step that a researcher should take when planning to collect data from primary sources is to define the research philosophy that will guide all the assumptions in the study. As shown in Figure 3.1 below, it is the first item that should be defined because it dictates how data will be collected based on specific assumptions.

According to Yilo et al. (2020), research philosophy defines how knowledge is built and the nature of the study. The choice of philosophy is often based on the aim and objectives of the study. A researcher needs to ensure that he selects a philosophy that is capable of achieving specific goals.

One can use positivism, interpretivism, realism, and pragmatism as the preferred research philosophy. It is necessary to discuss each of these philosophies to understand why one was selected as being the most appropriate in guiding the understanding of the concept under investigation.

Positivism is one of the most popular research philosophies in social sciences. According to O’Brien and Aliabadi (2020), proponents of this philosophy hold the view that knowledge can only be considered factual and trustworthy if it is gained through observations and measurement. It demands that the researcher should be as objective as possible when collecting data by distancing themself from any form of interference with the subjects under investigation. It holds the belief that a researcher should limit their role to that of data collection and analysis.

The proponents of the philosophy also emphasized the need to ensure that the data collected is quantifiable. By using structured questions, one can collect data that can be coded and analyzed mathematically. This philosophy is highly appropriate when conducting a quantitative study.

In this study, it would facilitate a statistical analysis to understand the common ways in which different people experience the love of God. As such, it was not the best philosophy for this project because it limits data collection and analysis to quantitative methods. Understanding and experiencing the love of God requires an analysis that goes beyond the quantitative method.

Interpretivism is another popular philosophy when conducting social sciences research. It holds the view that access to trustworthy information is through social constructions (Frost & Ledgerwood, 2020). A researcher can have access to reality through shared meaning and consciousness. Proponents of this philosophy are critical of principles put forth by positivists, arguing that it is not possible to completely exclude a researcher from the process of data collection.

In reality, the presence of a data collector in a community that is targeted for the study will result in a level of alteration of behavior. When people realize that they are under investigation, they will significantly change their behavior to reflect what would be considered ideal (Hennink et al., 2020).

The belief held by the positivists that they can fully avoid interfering with the subjects is misleading, according to the proponents of this philosophy. As such, they recommend that a researcher should make their intentions clear and address any misinformation that may motivate respondents to embrace behavior that is different from what they consider normal.

By using phenomenology and hermeneutics, they can investigate specific events that happened, the reasons why they happened in a specific way, and their impact. Interpretivism would be a good way of investigating how different people experience the love of God in different contexts. However, it was not used in this study because it rejects the statistical analysis of data.

In some cases, a researcher may opt to use realism as the primary philosophy that guides the assumptions in a given study. According to Clark et al. (2021), proponents of this philosophy hold the belief that reality is independent of human minds. They argue that people tend to be biased because of personal experiences, religious beliefs, and political affiliation, among other factors. What one considers a standard practice may be abnormal or absurd to another person because of these personal biases. It means that various events may be interpreted differently, depending on one’s perspective towards life.

Howitt (2019) argues that it may be possible to get a universal agreement on a given issue, however simple it may appear, because of the varying perceptions. As such, the only way of getting to understand reality is to use scientific methods.

Science will always focus on reality, and regardless of what people believe, such a study will present results based on nature. It emphasizes the need to conduct scientific tests in a laboratory or similar settings to understand the reality of an issue being investigated (Sawatsky et al., 2019). This was the least desirable philosophy of all that could be used because of the emphasis on the use of scientific methods.

When conducting a study that focuses on religious beliefs and practices, science has little space, if any (O’Brien & Aliabadi, 2020). It may not be possible to investigate the experience of the love of God in a laboratory setting. The spirituality that is involved in such an experience cannot be studied scientifically. As such, realism and its principles could not be the right philosophy for the study.

Pragmatism remains one of the most popular research philosophies for social scientists. Pragmatics hold the belief that there are different ways through which the world can be interpreted when conducting research (Grønmo, 2020). They also believe that there is no specific point of view that can provide an entire picture because, in many cases, there can be multiple realities. As such, the philosophy acknowledged the need to use different methods and approaches to processing data to have a comprehensive understanding of the issue being investigated.

Pragmatists are flexible enough to allow for mixed-method research during the investigation. It holds the view that using mixed-method research allows a researcher to assess the different perspectives of a concept and to provide a conclusion that is based on different views, which sometimes may be conflicting.

This was considered the most appropriate research philosophy for this study. When investigating how people experience the love of God, the researcher considered it necessary to use both qualitative and quantitative methods. Using statistical methods made it possible to determine the most common ways that people experience the love of God. The researcher could classify these experiences based on how common they are.

Most importantly, qualitative methods were needed in this analysis. The researcher needed to get a detailed explanation of how those who were selected for the study experienced the love of God. Using unstructured questions, it was possible to ask the participants to provide a detailed explanation of their experience.

As Clark et al. (2021) note, qualitative analysis enables a researcher to present findings in the form of themes. The individual themes would explain how people experience the love of God.

Research Approach

When the research philosophy has been defined, the next step is to select the appropriate research approach. Sawatsky et al. (2019) advise that the chosen research approach should be aligned with the principles of the selected philosophy. The approach defines how a researcher intends to develop new knowledge in the study.

A researcher can use deductive reasoning or inductive reasoning to develop new knowledge. Both of these approaches are discussed to understand why the researcher selected one of them.

The proponents of deductive reasoning believe that a researcher should start investigating by identifying a relevant theory. The assumption is that the study will focus on confirming the relevance of the theory in light of new knowledge that is to be developed (Hennink et al., 2020). As such, it is a popular theory when the primary goal is to address a specific gap in knowledge.

Once the theory is identified, the next step is to develop a hypothesis based on it. The researcher will then collect data, make observations, or conduct tests to confirm or reject the hypothesis. It is an approach that supports the use of statistical methods to support or reject the hypothesis (O’Brien & Aliabadi, 2020). This approach was not considered the most desirable one for the study because of the emphasis on statistical analysis.

When investigating the experience of the love of God, it is not appropriate to limit the knowledge development process to a specific theory. Figure 3.2 below shows the steps that need to be taken when using this philosophy in a research project.

Inductive reasoning is another common research approach when conducting social sciences research. When using this approach, the first step is to investigate by identifying a pattern, which will then be used to develop a theory or new knowledge, as shown in Figure 3.3 below.

It is important to note that when using this philosophy, there is no need for a researcher to base the entire study on a specific theory (Thanem & Knights, 2019). It is a flexible approach to developing new knowledge that primarily focuses on the observations made. It is also more inclined to use qualitative methods in the context of developing patterns that are finally used to develop a new theory or new knowledge. It was considered the most appropriate research philosophy for the study.

When investigating the experience of the love of God, the researcher needed to make an observation based on the views of those interviewed. It was necessary to develop patterns and themes to help explain how different people experience the love of God.

Although some theories were discussed in the literature review section, they were only meant to explain specific concepts about experiencing the love of God based on what other scholars have published. When using this approach, it was possible to develop new knowledge flexibly, as suggested in the selected philosophy (pragmatism).

Research Strategy

Research strategy entails the actual methods that a researcher uses to gather data from various sources to respond to research questions and to achieve the aim and objectives of the study. Lambert (2019) explains that the choice of research strategy depends on the questions that need to be answered in the study.

Various strategies can be used, as shown in the research onion shown in Figure 3.1 above. Experiments are used when conducting scientific research, often in a laboratory setting. Hence, it was not appropriate for the study. Action research involves taking action, conducting an evaluation, and then reflecting to improve practice in a given field, such as education (Hennink et al., 2020). It was not a relevant strategy for data collection for the study.

Grounded theory is a methodology that is common in qualitative studies that involves the collection and analysis of data with the primary aim of constructing hypotheses and theories. This strategy was not relevant to this study (Strijker et al., 2020).

Ethnography is a popular method of data collection when the focus is to describe the culture, customs, habits, and practices of people from different parts of the world (Kirsten & Schmid, 2022). This was not the goal of this study; hence, it was considered an inappropriate strategy.

A case study is another popular strategy when conducting social sciences research, and it focuses on having an intensive study of a group of people or a given unit to understand why specific phenomena occurred and what impact they had. Although it would be a relevant strategy for this study, it was not used because it is not aligned with the primary aim of this research.

A survey was a method that the researcher considered relevant to this study. According to Bougie and Sekaran (2020), a survey involves collecting data from a sample of the entire population to understand a given concept. When conducting a survey, the goal is to identify individuals who are capable of explaining a specific phenomenon, such as when it happened, how it happened, and the impact that it had. A survey is relevant when the research intends to use either qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method research. As such, it is aligned with pragmatism, which was the selected philosophy.

A survey was considered critical when investigating the experience of the love of God. It made it possible to identify individuals and engage them in an interview to understand their perspective on the issue being investigated.

Sawatsky et al. (2019) believe that when there is a knowledge gap in a specific field of knowledge, the best way to address the gap is to collect data through a survey. By engaging the faithful in different religious institutions, it was possible to understand their view of the topic. A survey was the primary strategy used to collect primary data.

Archival research involves extracting information from published records. As mentioned above, a researcher should start an investigation by understanding what other scholars have published about the topic. In this study, the researcher collected information from various secondary records. The bulk of the secondary data used was from books and scholarly journal articles. The researcher relied on online databases such as Jstor, Google Scholar, Sage Journals, and Directory of Open Access Journals to have full access to these secondary data sources.

There are specific religious websites and online sources that the researcher also found to be critical in presenting the information that was needed in the study. Data obtained from these secondary sources were accurately referenced using APA citation style in every instance that they were used in this report, as explained in the ethical section below. The researcher made sure that these secondary materials used were recently published, most preferably within the last five years.

Choices

The research onion above shows that a researcher can use mono-method, mixed method, or multi-method when processing data collected from the primary source. The choice of data analysis depends on the aim of the study and the nature of the research questions. The researcher opted to use mixed-method research to have a comprehensive analysis of the issue under investigation.

Clark et al. (2021) observe that there are cases when using either quantitative or quantitative methods alone may not be adequate in analyzing an issue. It becomes necessary to use both qualitative and quantitative methods to process the primary data and have a comprehensive understanding of the issue. It is necessary to explain why the researcher needed to use both qualitative and quantitative methods when processing data in this study.

Different people experience the love of God in different ways. The challenge is that some religious leaders are so rigid that they believe there are just a few conventional ways through which people can experience the love of God. As (Nawls, 2022) says, some ways of experiencing the love of God are more prevalent than others. Using a quantitative method of data collection, it is possible to identify the most common ways that people experience the love of God.

The statistical analysis will enable the researcher to rank the different experiences based on how often believers use them. Statistical analysis also makes it possible to understand how different variables are related. In that case, it will be possible to explain if a specific event can influence how an individual experiences the love of God.

A qualitative method was equally important in processing primary data obtained from the participants. It was the primary method of analyzing data obtained from the participants. The experience of the love of God cannot be easily quantified. An individual is capable of explaining, in great detail, how they would experience the love of God. They can provide an incident where they experienced the love of God. It could be in the process of praying, assisting an individual in need, receiving assistance from another individual when in need, or interacting with nature.

From an individual perspective, these are experiences that can only be explained using qualitative methods. The qualitative analysis makes it possible to identify patterns, which can then be used to develop themes. The unstructured nature of the questions allows the respondents to provide a detailed explanation of their experience without being limited to a specific pattern of response.

Data Collection

When the strategy of data collection has been defined, the researcher is then expected to conduct the actual process of data collection. As was mentioned above, the data collection process should focus on gathering information that will directly respond to the primary questions in the study.

In this section, the researcher explains how consent was obtained from the participants before the actual process of collecting data. The sampling and sample size considered adequate for the study is explained. The researcher then explains the questionnaire design and a pilot study that was conducted to test the ability of the instrument to facilitate the collection of data. The section then outlines steps taken to gather data from the sampled participants.

Consent

Obtaining consent is critical when collecting primary data from participants. Depending on the nature of the data that is collected, consent can be obtained in two different ways. When a researcher seeks to interview employees of a specific company, Sawatsky et al. (2019) recommend that consent should be obtained both from the employer and the individuals who will be interviewed.

Employers may feel that they have to be consulted if the information obtained directly relates to their firm, such as the experience of employees in a given organization. On the other hand, when data obtained has little to do with an organization, then there is no need to get approval from the management of the institution.

In this study, the focus was on the faith of the individuals, specifically how they experience the love of God. This is a personal issue that has little to do with any organization. However, it was still necessary to go through specific leaders of the church to reach out to members of the congregation.

Instead of directly contacting the congregants, the researcher considered it necessary to start by reaching out to the church leaders and explaining the aim and objectives of the study. They were then requested to identify specific members of their churches who could take part in the investigation. It was easier for these leaders to convince their congregants to take part in the study than when the researcher contacted them directly. In this case, the interview would not directly focus on the churches selected in any way.

However, it was still necessary to explain in detail the relevance of the study to the church leader, the goal of the study, and why their members were selected to be part of it. It meant that there was no need to write a consent letter.

The researcher needed to get the express consent of the individual congregants. The investigation focused on their belief, and before they could share their experience with the researcher, it was ethical to ensure that they were ready to do so. Once a participant was identified, through the assistance of the religious leader, a copy of the instrument of data collection was sent to them.

The document explained the objective of the study, the reasons why they were selected to be part of it, the role that they were expected to play, and the voluntary nature of their participation. Only those who gave their express consent participated in the study.

Sampling and Sample Size

Experiencing the love of God is something that people of different religious groups go through. Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews, among many other religious groups, have varying ways through which they have this experience. It was not possible to collect data from the entire population of over 38 million people. As such, it was necessary to have a manageable sample.

The entire population in the country was narrowed down to a specific religious group. Christians were selected because slightly over two-thirds of the country’s population, or 22.1 million people, identify as Christians (Fellows, 2021). The reason for choosing just one specific religion was to avoid introducing complex variables and contradictions in the study. For instance, Hindus have numerous gods, most of which are symbolized by various objects. They believe that some animals, such as cows, tigers, and monkeys, are holy.

Such beliefs sharply contradict that of Christians, Muslims, and Jews, who believe that there is only one God in heaven and that no one else or object should be worshipped. At the same time, Jews do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah and do not treat him as holy.

On the other hand, Christians do not believe that Muhammad was a prophet of God. In the same way, Muslims do not believe that Jesus was a Messiah, although they believe he was one of the many prophets of God. Such major contradictions introduce numerous variables that are beyond the scope of this study.

To ensure that the scope of the study was narrowed down to a specific religion, Christianity was chosen. The researcher believed that having people of the same faith would make it easy to assess the experience of the love of God without introducing numerous variables.

The researcher selected churches within a small radius to make it easy for data collection. When collecting the data, the main inclusion criteria is that one has to identify as a Christian. They should regularly attend services at the selected church. The researcher also considered it necessary to include only those who are over 18 years old in the study because they could effectively explain how they have experienced the love of God. Those who identified as non-Christians or non-practicing Christians were excluded from the sample.

Among those who met the inclusion criteria, a simple random sampling method was used to select those who would take part in the study. This method was chosen because it eliminated the possible bias that a researcher would have had. It meant that the participants could either be male or female, citizens of Canada or foreigners, rich or poor, black or white or Asian, or belong to any other demographic class as long as they met the basic inclusion criteria mentioned above. A sample size of 50 participants was considered adequate for the study.

Questionnaire Design

The researcher developed a questionnaire to facilitate the collection of data from the sampled participants. According to Hennink et al. (2020), developing a questionnaire is critical because it enables a researcher to have a coordinated approach to data collection.

When collecting quantitative data, it becomes necessary to develop a way in which the collected data can be coded for statistical analysis. Respondents must be given similar questions and a similar format of the response to ensure that statistical values can be assigned to these responses. Having a standard questionnaire is the only way through which that goal can be realized.

In qualitative analysis, the focus is to develop patterns that can then be used to develop themes. Although the questions are unstructured, all the respondents should be given the same questions so that the analysis focuses on how each one of them views the issue under investigation. It meant that instead of developing questions during the survey process, it would be undesirable. Instead, it was necessary to have a standard tool for collecting the needed data.

The questionnaire that was developed had three sections. The first section of the document focused on determining the demographics of the participants. It primarily focused on their age, gender, sexual orientation, and nationality.

According to Frost and Ledgerwood (2020), different demographical factors directly affect how people experience the love of God. The elderly tend to be more religious and spiritually strong because of the belief that they have a limited time in the world and, as such, need to secure a place in heaven.

On the other hand, the younger generation tends to feel that they have yet to explore the world, and being too religious may limit their ability to do so. In terms of gender, there have been conflicting arguments when it comes to determining those who are more religious than others.

Same-sex marriage and relationships are becoming increasingly acceptable in Canada. However, the issue remains sensitive, and some people prefer not to discuss their sexuality. The researcher was interested in determining if data can be skewed based on one’s sexual orientation. To ensure that all the participants were comfortable answering all the questions, this specific question about their sexuality was optional.

The researcher also asked the participants to state their nationality and asked the non-Canadians to state how long they have been in the country. The intention was to determine if data can be skewed based on the length of time an individual has been practicing Christianity within the country.

The second part of the questionnaire focused on determining the academic experience of the participants, leadership position in the church, the possibility that an individual converted from other religious beliefs to Christianity and the length of time an individual has been a Christian in case they are converts. There is often a general assumption that those in leadership positions have unique experiences when it comes to communicating with God and understanding His answers.

For converts, one can compare how they experience the love of God as Christians with how they did so before converting. Determining the time that one has been a Christian, for the converts, helps in determining their level of maturity in the religion.

The last section of the document focused on understanding the experience of the love of God among the participants. In this section, the researcher focused on addressing the research goal and objectives, as Frost and Ledgerwood (2020) recommend. The researcher used both structured and unstructured questions in this section of the questionnaire. These questions were designed to be as simple as possible, making it easy for the respondents to provide the needed information.

Collection of Primary Data

When all the preparations had been made, the final step was the actual collection of data from the sampled participants. The researcher contacted individual participants and explained to them the significance of the study. During the phone call conversation, the researcher explained why the study was being conducted, the reasons why the individuals were selected, the impact of the study, and how they were supposed to answer the questions.

The researcher took the opportunity to explain to the participants that their identities would remain anonymous as a way of limiting their withdrawal from the study or withholding some critical information. The researcher took the opportunity to answer any questions that the respondents had about the study.

The researcher used two main strategies to collect data from the participants based on the availability of the respondents. The first strategy, which was the most preferred method, was a face-to-face interview. In this strategy, the researcher planned a physical meeting with the participants at their preferred location. The participants were presented with the instrument of data collection that they had to read and sign as a sign that they understood the terms, the role they were expected to play, and their ability to withdraw from the study when they felt it was necessary.

In some cases, the participants agreed to spare some time after the church service to answer the questions. Others suggested that the interview be done in their homes over the weekend or in the evening. A few others choose to have the interview at work. Thirty participants were able to take part in a face-to-face interview in these various settings. Grønmo (2020) explains that such interviews offer the best opportunity to collect data about an individual’s experience.

The physical presence of the interviewer emphasizes the significance of the study, which means that participants will take it more seriously. They will be committed to providing information that is as truthful as it possibly can be. Thanem and Knights (2019) also believe that an individual is less likely to deliberately provide misleading information in such a setting. They have a limited time to answer each question, which makes it difficult for them to lie.

The physical interaction also enables the interviewer to gather further information by reading non-verbal cues. Body language and facial expression can help a researcher determine if the respondent is comfortable with a specific question or if they are struggling to answer it. These steps enhance the accuracy of the information collected. Each interview lasted a maximum of 20 minutes, and in each case, the questionnaire was used.

The second strategy that was used to collect data from the sampled respondents was a phone interview. Some of the participants explained that their tight schedules and other commitments made it impossible for them to take part in a physical interview. They agreed to take part in phone interviews because they felt it would be possible to do so while in other engagements. Just like those who took part in the physical interviews, these participants were allowed to choose the time at which they felt they could take part in the study.

The fact that there was no physical interaction meant that the researcher had to email the consent form before the interview. They were asked to read and understand all the terms and raise any concerns if they felt it was necessary to do so. The researcher also believed it was advisable to email the questionnaire to these participants to enable them to familiarize themselves with the questions.

When the participants were ready, the phone interview was conducted. Most of these respondents preferred a direct video call using WhatsApp, while others insisted on using normal phone calls. The researcher was keen on ensuring that each of these interviews lasted no more than 20 minutes unless there were factors that made it take longer.

Data Analysis

When data has been collected from various sources, the last step is to conduct an analysis. As was explained above, the researcher chose to use both qualitative and quantitative approaches to data analysis. The quantitative analysis mainly focused on identifying the most common ways in which different people experience the love of God.

Data obtained from the structured questions were coded to ensure that they could be analyzed statistically. The researcher then entered the data into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for analysis. The statistical analysis primarily focused on modal analysis to determine the frequency of occurrence of specific responses. The outcome of the statistical analysis was presented in the form of charts and graphs.

The second approach to the analysis of primary data, which was considered to be more important than the one discussed above, was the qualitative method. Fellows (2021) observes that a qualitative approach to data analysis makes it possible for a researcher to have a more comprehensive analysis of an issue beyond statistical analysis. It involves providing a detailed explanation of why a given phenomenon occurred in a given way, the possible causes, why it happened in that manner, and the impact that it had.

In this context, a qualitative analysis made it possible for the researcher to understand how different individuals experience the love of God. In the data collection section, respondents were asked to explain in their own words how they have experienced the love of God.

During the analysis stage, the researcher used direct quotes to develop patterns. The patterns were then used to develop themes, which explained the experience of the love of God among the locals who took part in this study.

Validity and Reliability Issues

Validity and reliability issues should always be addressed when conducting an academic research project. This document may be used by future theology students who may be interested in understanding the experience of the love of God. It is essential to ensure that they are presented with a document that presents valid and reliable information.

The validity of research refers to the accuracy with which a method in the study measures something (Hennink et al., 2020). A method can be considered valid if its measure corresponds closely to values in the real world (Yilo et al., 2020). The validity of information in this study was enhanced by ensuring that data used in the study was obtained from various sources.

The researcher reviewed various theories to understand the concept being investigated in great detail. The researcher used triangulation as a way of enhancing the accuracy of the data. Besides the primary data that was obtained from the sampled participants in the study, the researcher also used secondary data sources.

Books, journal articles, and reliable online sources also formed the core of the information presented in the document. The congruency of the data obtained from the various sources was an adequate measure of the validity of the data in this report.

Reliability is another critical factor that helps to ensure that a report presents accurate information. According to Nind et al. (2020), reliability refers to the extent to which a questionnaire, or any other instrument in a research project, consistently presents the same results when utilized in a similar situation.

A reliable instrument should present the same result if the questions in the study remain unchanged and the population being investigated remains the same, even if the sample from the same population is changed. It means that when the instrument is used by a different scholar to study the same population on the same topic, the result should be the same.

To ensure the reliability of the study, the researcher tested the data collection instrument to ensure that it was capable of collecting the needed information. The goal of the study was to explore the experience of the love of God.

A pilot study was conducted to determine if this instrument could gather the information that was needed. The outcome of the pilot study demonstrated that the instrument of data collection was designed in a way that eliminates confusion and ambiguity, making it possible to collect data accurately.

Limitations and Delimitations

When conducting this study, some limitations were encountered, which are worth discussing at this stage of the report. One of the main limitations of this study was identifying individuals who met the inclusion criteria discussed above. An individual’s experience of the love of God has little to do with their places of work. As such, the researcher was keen to avoid the lengthy process of getting consent from participants’ places of work. The goal was to directly collect the data from random people within the local community. This strategy presented a challenge because it was not easy to randomly choose individuals and interview them to determine if they met the set criteria.

The relatively large population of Muslims within the local community also meant that the researcher would frequently encounter them. There is a general perception among Muslims in the country that sometimes they are profiled because of their religion and viewed as extremists. It meant that asking such an individual if they are Christian would sound offensive.

To overcome this challenge, the researcher opted to target specific churches. Getting the participants with the help of the priests would ensure that those who were contacted met the inclusion criteria. It eliminated the need for pre-interview questions meant to determine if these participants met the inclusion criteria.

It was also noted that a significant number of those who were sampled to take part in the interview withdrew suddenly for various reasons. These respondents had been informed that their participation in the study was voluntary. Some of them informed the researcher of their decision to withdraw, while others withdrew without saying so.

The researcher had to find a way of replacing those who withdrew from the study to ensure that data saturation was achieved, as Bougie and Sekaran (2020) note. It took time to replace them, which led to delays in the processing of primary data. However, the researcher was able to make such replacements and ensure that at least 50 people took part in the investigation.

A section of those who were interviewed felt that the experience of the love of God they have is so personal that they could not freely talk about it. They were particularly concerned that when they share such experiences, the report will state their name and the experience. They felt uncomfortable sharing such information in a way that would be public.

The researcher had to spend some time explaining the relevance of the study and its purpose, as Howitt (2019) advises. The participants were then assured that their identities would remain anonymous and that after the interview, it would be almost impossible for anyone to determine what each participant said in the study. It was only after being reassured that these participants agreed to be part of the investigation.

Ethical Considerations

When conducting a research project, it is always essential to ensure that ethical considerations are observed. One of the most important ethical issues that a researcher is expected to observe is the need to hide the identity of those who take part in the process of data collection.

Lambert (2019) explains that it is common for people to be verbally, or even in some cases physically, attacked because their view on an issue is different from that of those who are in power or the majority. In other cases, an employee may be denied a well-deserved promotion or even be fired from their work primarily because of their view on a certain issue. The risk is always great when the topic is controversial or sensitive in a company setting.

In Canada, an overwhelming majority of the population identifies themselves as Christians (Baker & Whitehead, 2020). However, there are Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and other religious faithful, including those who do not associate with any specific religion.

The religious diversity in this country made it necessary to ensure that all the participants were protected, just in case their views about the experience of the love of God were different or offensive to a section of society. Instead of using their actual names, which would make it easy for readers of this document to easily trace them, the researcher assigned them specific codes. They were identified as Participant 1, Participant 2, and Participant 3 … Participant X. This approach ensured that no one would be victimized because of their views given in this study. All the participants were informed that their identities would be anonymized to encourage them to freely share their views.

Getting informed consent is an ethical requirement when conducting a research project. Strijker et al. (2020) note that for one to spend time and take part in an investigation, one will be sacrificing time that would have otherwise been used in other economic or recreational activities. When data is to be collected from a company or its employees, the researcher must get the approval of the management.

In this study, data was to be obtained from people in their private capacity. It meant that consent from their employers was not needed. The section above has explained how that consent was obtained.

A researcher is ethically required to adequately prepare participants before collecting data from them. The preparation involves explaining the nature and goal of the study. In this context, the researcher had to explain what the concept of experiencing the love of God meant. They were informed about the significance of the study and why they were selected to take part in it.

The preparation also involved explaining to them how to respond to the research questions. Before starting the process of data collection, the researcher made sure that all the questions and concerns that the participants had were adequately addressed.

Religion remains a sensitive and sometimes divisive issue in many parts of the world. Although Canada is one of the most religiously tolerant societies in the developed world, the issue remains sensitive (Kirsten & Schmid, 2022). Even among Christians and Muslims, there are different denominations with varying principles and practices that may be considered divisive. As such, it was an ethical requirement to ensure that questions were structured in such a way that did not elicit emotions or bring out divisions.

As an academic project, there are specific ethical requirements that have to be met based on school rules and regulations, including guidelines from the instructor. One of the main ethical concerns observed in this context was the need to avoid all forms of plagiarism.

Clark et al. (2021) argue that plagiarism is one of the worst academic frauds that a student can commit. The school has strict policies that are meant to discourage such academic malpractices, and the punishment for the culprits is often stiff.

The researcher made sure that this document was written from scratch without any form of copying. Throughout the paper, it was necessary to support arguments made with information from various publications.

Whenever that was done, the researcher made sure that there was proper referencing made using the American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style. The researcher did not involve anyone to assist in the development of the whole or part of this document, as doing so would also be considered plagiarism.

The researcher involved the instructor at various stages of the development of the document to ensure that the progress could be monitored and evaluated. Any concerns will be addressed before finalizing the document. The researcher also ensured that the report was completed within the time that had been provided and handed in as per the requirements stated by the instructor.

Results and Discussion

Introduction

The previous chapter has provided information about how data was collected and processed. In this chapter, the focus is to present findings made from primary sources and integrate them with data processed from secondary sources.

In this chapter, the researcher presents findings about how different people experience the love of God in different settings. In the discussion section of the chapter, the researcher integrates primary data with secondary data. It is the section where the researcher discusses sources of the love of God, its recipients, and its spiritual effects. The chapter also discusses the physical effects of the love of God and its sociological effects.

Results

The researcher processed primary data collected from the sampled respondents to understand their views regarding the concept under investigation. It was necessary to collect and process primary data to determine if findings made through the review of the literature is confirmed or rejected. As explained in the methodology section, the researcher used both quantitative and qualitative approaches to process data obtained from the respondents.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was considered necessary to help determine if the participants agreed with some of the statements made based on their experience as Christians. One of the issues that the researcher was keen on addressing was whether Christians experience the love of God at one stage of their lives or another. It takes faith for one to appreciate that good things that have happened in their lives are directly attributed to the love of God.

The respondents were asked the question, and their responses were processed statistically and presented in Figure 4.1 below. It is evident that 19 out of 50 respondents (38%) strongly believe that all Christians indeed experience the love of God at one stage of their lives.

Twenty people, or 40% of the participants, also agree with the statement. It means that the majority of those who took part in the study (78%) believe that at one stage of one’s life, they will experience the love of God and appreciate that some of the good things that have happened in their lives can only be attributed to the love of God.

Eight people, or 16% of the participants, were not sure on the issue. 6% had a contrary opinion on the issue, with 4% disagreeing and 2% strongly disagreeing with the statement. Based on statistical significance, it is evident that all Christians would, at one point in their lives, experience the love of God.

Believers should learn to appreciate God’s grace and mercy in their daily lives. The researcher wanted to determine if something can be done to enhance a believer’s ability to experience the love of God. The participants were asked to share their views on the issue, and Figure 4.2 below shows the outcome of the statistical analysis of their responses.

The figure shows that 23 participants, or 46% of those who took part in the study, strongly believe that something can be done to improve the capacity of a believer to encounter God’s love. Another 21 individuals, or 42% of the participants, noted that they agreed with the statement. It means that an overwhelming majority of the participants, 88%, believe that something can be done to enhance believer’s ability to experience the love of God.

Such individuals need to be reminded of the numerous challenges that they encounter in their daily lives and what God has done to protect them. 8% of those who took part in the study stated that they were not sure if something could be done to help Christians have an enhanced ability to experience the love of God.

Only two individuals, or 4% of the entire population interviewed, had a contrary opinion to that of the majority. One individual disagreed with the statement, and another strongly disagreed with it, arguing that very little is possible to increase a believer’s capacity to feel God’s love.

There is an ongoing debate about the level of love that God has towards all His children. Some argue that God’s favor and love are greater in some people than in others. Some scholars believe that we are all children of God and that his love for us is the same. The researcher considered it necessary to present this controversial topic to the participants to determine their views on it.

As shown in Figure 4.3 below, nine individuals strongly agreed with the statement that the love of God is equal to all His children. Another 15 also agreed with the statement, which means that 48% of the participants believe that the love of God is equal to everyone. 6% of the participants could not take sides, stating that they were not sure about the issue.

On the other side of the spectrum, 14 individuals disagreed, and another nine strongly disagreed, which means that 46% of the participants do not believe that the love of God is equal to all His children.

In the bible, cases are presented of some of the chosen few children of God who were loved by God more than others. Abraham, Jacob, King David, and King Solomon are some of the few examples of people who were immensely loved by God, and they always received His favor in a better way than others. They had great wealth and were blessed with children (Heinämaa, 2020).

On the other hand, Jesus teaches us that we are all equal before the Lord. This is a possible cause of confusion because the findings in Figure 4.3 below show an almost evenly split opinion on the issue. Those who believe the love of God is equal to all His children are 48% of the population sampled, while those with contrary opinions are 46%. This is an issue that will require future scholars to narrow down the investigation and focus on specific issues to determine if the love of God is equal to all His children.

The level of focus that born-again Christians have toward praising and worshiping the Lord is significantly different from those who are not born-again. Those who are born-again will constantly be looking for special things that God has done in their lives and will easily experience the love of God.

On the other hand, those who are not born again may attribute their success to personal effort, choosing to ignore the role of God in their success. The participants were asked to state if they believe that born-again Christians are more likely to experience the love of God than those who are not, and Figure 4.4 below shows their responses.

It is evident that 21 out of 50 participants (42%) strongly agree with the statement, while another 24 participants or 48% agree with the statement. It means that the majority of the participants, 90%, feel that those who are born again Christians have a higher chance of encountering God’s love. 6% of the participants were non-committal, stating that they were not sure about the issue under investigation.

Only two individuals had a contrary opinion on this issue, with one person disagreeing and another strongly disagreeing with the statement. The statistical significance of this analysis makes one feel there is a greater chance for born-again Christians to encounter God’s love.

The participants explained that born-again Christians may not be getting greater blessings from the Lord than those who are not. In some cases, they may even be less successful economically, academically, or in many other parameters that society uses to assess an individual’s success.

However, they have cultivated a heart that is full of gratitude towards God. Every little progress that they make would be directly associated with mercies and the love of God. They believe that without His guidance and support, they cannot achieve anything.

Qualitative Analysis

The researcher conducted a qualitative analysis as well, to have a detailed understanding about the experience of the love of God. As shown in the review of the literature, different people experience the love of God in different ways.

It was necessary to use unstructured questions to allow the participants to explain their experiences. The analysis focused on addressing specific goals of the study. Thematic analysis was based on the specific objectives that needed to be achieved through this study.

To determine the sources of the love of God.

To investigate the recipients of the love of God.

To discuss the spiritual effects of the love of God.

To assess the physical effects of the love of God.

To determine the sociological effects of the love of God.

Discussion

People experience the love of God in different ways, as shown in the primary data analysis above. The data collected show that the ability of an individual to experience the love of God depends on various factors. One individual would feel that their success at work is directly attributed to the love of God and His blessings, while another would attribute such success to their hard work and personal commitment (Dougherty, 2019).

At the same time, some people would attribute their pain and suffering to a lack of God’s love and compassion toward them, while others would feel that it is a temporary setback in their lives that will not last. In this section, it is necessary to integrate information collected from both primary and secondary sources in a discussion to understand the experience of the love of God.

Sources of the Love of God

One of the major goals of this study was to determine the sources of God’s love. In the interview that was conducted, it emerged that scripture is one of the major sources of love. May (2019) explains that an individual may not understand the nature of God’s love towards them if they do not read the scripture. Events may happen in their lives that they can easily attribute to personal efforts.

However, reading the scripture will enable them to understand and appreciate the fact that God has always been a force in their lives. Israelites forgot about God’s love while they were in the wilderness and even considered worshiping other gods as a sign of rebellion against Moses. Although God was not happy with their action, His love never departed them. He finally led them to the Promised Land and enabled them to win major battles, although they had a small army and limited experience on the battlefield (Baker & Whitehead, 2020). When one reads the scripture, one will understand that the love of God is always around us, and sometimes He rescues us from serious threats.

The respondents noted that nature is another major source of God’s love toward humanity. In a capitalistic world, there is an effort for people to commercialize everything important to human life. However, the respondents noted that some of the most important life-support systems occur freely in our natural environment.

Air is the most important life-support system, without which an individual cannot survive for more than 3 minutes. Given the opportunity, capitalistic-minded individuals would want to commercialize it (Kaiser, 2019). However, it is a free resource that is available to everyone despite one’s socioeconomic status.

God has granted humans land that can be tilled to obtain food for everyone. There are beautiful rivers and lakes where people can have water for domestic use and as a source of fish. The oceans offer an abundant supply of seafood, while the forests offer trees that can be used for various purposes. The fact that God granted humans the ability to exploit these natural resources is a sign of His love. He trusted humans to be responsible enough to use these resources for survival needs, but in a way that would protect his creation.

In the interview, some respondents felt that relationships are some of the major sources of God’s love. It may not be possible for a person to physically interact with God and directly experience His love. However, the Bible says that we were created in the image of God (Dougherty, 2019).

The respondents explained that relationships can be a source of immense love in one’s life. When one is in a healthy romantic relationship, one will experience a unique emotional attachment toward one’s partner. They will explain to them their concerns, fears, and aspirations in life. Because of the affection, the partner will offer them both emotional and material support to the best of their capacity.

In many cases, we experience the love of God through the love that we get from these loved ones. Parents have unconditional love towards their children, a love whose source is God himself. His love towards humanity is unconditional, and although people continue to be sinful, He has never forsaken his people.

The analysis also revealed that service to God and humankind is another source of God’s love. When an individual serves God through praise, worship, and prayers, they will be exalting His name and focusing on the good things that he has done for them. An appreciative heart is full of love, as Kaiser (2019) says. The intimate interaction that one has with the Lord during prayer and worship sessions would fill one’s heart with love.

Service to humankind is another major source of God’s love. The respondents explained that every time they offer assistance to those who are in need, the gratitude that they get exposes them to the love of God. They feel that they are serving the Lord in their small capacities.

Some of the major cities in the United States have a significantly high number of homeless individuals who are struggling to make ends meet. Any assistance that one can grant such individuals in need is a service to humanity (May, 2019). Offering such assistance is an appreciation that God has been merciful to the giver, and as such, it is the turn of the giver to be merciful to those who are in need.

Recipients of the Love of God

There is always a perception that God’s love is meant for specific individuals. In the bible, it is evident that God loved the Israelites more than any other tribe in the world, as He was always with them and blessed and protected them in many ways (Baker & Whitehead, 2020). As such, one can easily assume that God did not love other tribes.

However, the same bible recounts in the book of Genesis that during the time of Joseph, Israelites were faced with famine while Egyptians had abundant crop production. The same bible also says that Israelites were finally enslaved in Egypt for hundreds of years.

One would assume that the love of God had shifted from them to the Egyptians. For hundreds of years, they were at the service of Egyptians, and they felt that they no longer experienced the love of God in this land of slavery. The Bible records that there were cases when God allowed Israelites’ enemies to prevail over them in battles.

The outcome of the analysis of primary data shows that there was a near-unanimous feeling among the participants that everyone is a recipient of God’s love. They explained that the love of God was promised to Jews and Gentiles.

In Genesis 22:17-18, the Bible says: “I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your seed greatly like the stars of the heavens and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your seed will possess the gate of his enemies. In your seed will all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice” (King James Version, 1769/2017).

In this verse, God promises to love and bless all humankind all over the world because of the good deeds of Abraham. It is an indication that sometimes we experience the love of God because of the actions of others. It may be a prayer that a parent makes or a good act of a spouse that finally brings blessings to one’s family and their lives. We are all his creation, and his love is upon us at all times. The only difference that emerges is that some people are keener on identifying and acknowledging God’s love than others.

The Spiritual Effects of the Love of God

God’s love may have major implications in our lives. Having the knowledge that God loves us may give us a unique experience. When asked about the spiritual effects of the love of God, some of the participants noted that it brings peace and hope. When a group of people is aware of God’s love, they tend to be more forgiving when they are transgressed. They do not seek revenge and are keen to find peaceful ways of resolving such conflicts. God’s love also brings about a sense of hope in the lives of believers.

Kaiser (2019) explains that sometimes people go through immense challenges caused by sickness or financial constraints. Others are suffering in abusive marriages and families. The only motivation that such individuals have is the hope that the future will be their joy. They are aware that they are loved by God and that their pain will not last forever.

The respondents noted that the love of God is a great source of satisfaction. One of the main causes of dissatisfaction in life is the constant desire for an individual to compare themselves with others.

Dougherty (2019) explains that when one bases their success on how well they match or surpass the success of others, then it is almost impossible to achieve satisfaction. They will remain under constant pressure to do anything possible to remain at the top.

When one understands the love of God, they will realize that in their current position, they are doing better than so many people. They will learn the significance of contentment as being a major source of happiness in life (Weston, 2020). They may not necessarily stop working towards greater levels of success, but they will understand that they need to celebrate their current levels of success.

The love of God often brings faith and courage to one’s life. When individuals realize that God loves them, their faith will grow stronger. They will experience significant growth in their spiritual realm as they try to serve the Lord because of His love.

The love of God also grants an individual the spiritual courage to fight spiritual battles. Some of these spiritual wars can wear down an individual and create fear in them. However, when they experience the love of God, they develop the courage to continue with the fight. They realize that they are not alone in the battle and that if they have faith, success will always come their way.

The love of God heals broken hearts, as some of the respondents noted. Life often presents unique challenges to individuals. It may be the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, a broken relationship, or even failure to pass exams (Kaiser, 2019). These events may bring great sorrow and pain to those who are affected. Some may even consider taking their own lives because of the immense pain that they go through. However, the love of God is so consoling and will help heal such broken hearts. The knowledge that God loves them despite such unfortunate events will be comforting.

The respondents also felt that the love of God creates the ability to forgive ourselves. Sometimes, one may make a mistake that they feel is unforgivable. Self-blame is one of the most self-destructive forces that can lead to an individual taking their own life (Kaiser, 2019). They feel that the only way out would be to die.

The love of God reminds them that human beings are not perfect, and from time to time, they are likely to make mistakes. As one prays for God’s forgiveness, one also has to forgive themselves. Those who experience the love of God are more likely to forgive themselves.

The Physical Effects of the Love of God

The love of God has significant physical effects on His children. When the respondents were asked to state some of the physical effects of the love of God, some of them explained that it is a source of physical strength. When one gets drained emotionally because of the numerous challenges that they face in life, they end up losing physical strength. They feel compelled to give up on their dreams (May, 2019). However, the love of God creates perseverance and commitment. Despite the challenge that one may be going through, one will feel the need to press on and summon the inner strength to overcome the challenge.

The love of God enables an individual to lead a life of good health. The Bible reminds us that our bodies are the temples of God, and as such, we have a responsibility to protect them.

A person who lives in faith and is committed to following the teachings of the Lord will avoid actions that will expose their body to harm. They will avoid abusing drugs and alcohol because they understand the need to protect and respect the temple of God. They will avoid addictive, harmful behavior in their lives (Weston, 2020). Doing so helps in ensuring that they remain in sound health. A physically healthy person will always be in a position to serve God and experience His love in a greater way than one who is sick.

The love of God is also considered to be a source of security. The Lord teaches us that we should not take revenge even when we feel that we have been unfairly attacked. A person who has not embraced the love of God is more likely to fight back. Doing so exposes an individual to serious bodily harm.

On the contrary, a person who believes in the love of God is likely to trust in Him to offer them security. They will avoid anything that can subject them to any form of physical confrontation. They know that such fights may not be the best way of solving a conflict. Another participant noted that the love of God can help an individual avoid leading a reckless life.

The Sociological Effects of the Love of God

The study also revealed the sociological effects of the love of God. Numerous forces directly affect the relationship that an individual has with the people around them. Kaiser (2019) observes that in some cases, conflict may arise because of competing interests or varying beliefs and practices.

The participants noted that the love of God promotes peace in society. Whenever one feels aggrieved, the love of God is a constant reminder to them that there is a need to have inner peace. They are reminded that engaging in conflict denies an individual the opportunity to communicate with God intimately and to overcome numerous challenges. These individuals are more likely to consider peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms whenever they feel aggrieved.

The participants also noted that the love of God promotes unity in society. In a capitalistic society, it is common for people to act out of personal interests. The desire to create vast amounts of wealth promotes individualism.

However, some of the major challenges that humanity faces require unity in society. When trying to fight terror attacks and extremism, people have to work as a unit to find the needed solution. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, every member of society needed to make an effort to fight against its spread (Lennox, 2020). When people come together to address a specific problem, it becomes easy to find a solution. Individuals who experience the love of God easily acknowledge the significance of unity.

The study also shows that the love of God promotes diversity in society. The United States has been attracting immigrants from all over the world for several decades now (Oord, 2019). As such, the country is one of the most culturally diverse in the country.

Cases of extremism and racial profiling have been reported against a section of society. The problem has been more pronounced in the law enforcement and criminal justice system in the country (Kaiser, 2019). It has raised racial tension in the country, which threatens to disrupt unity.

Reading the word of God and experiencing His love helps to promote unity. The knowledge that God loves all His children is a reminder to humanity that people need to love one another irrespective of their race, religion, country of origin, gender, age, or any other demographical factor that makes one individual different from the rest.

Tolerance is an important virtue that all Christians are encouraged to embrace. In the workplace, an individual may face numerous challenges that may force them to act violently or against company policies.

The problem may be a customer who decides to be unreasonable, a boss who is making irrational demands, or a colleague who feels that they are entitled to specific benefits more than anyone else (Baker & Whitehead, 2020). Any rational person will complain when they feel exploited or act in a way that will help them feel contented.

However, the love of God inculcates tolerance among Christians. They learn to be patient even in cases where they feel that they are being exploited. The perseverance would eventually pay through promotion, increase in salary, or other benefits that come with success at work.

The love of God has been associated with the willingness of people to fight extremism. In a country that is as culturally diverse as Canada, it is common to find cases where people identify themselves with specific groups based on their race, religion, cultural practices, or political affiliations (Kegler, 2019). Such trends only deepen the differences and animosity that one group has toward the other as people feel entitled to the country’s resources and leadership. Such an environment can easily breed extremism, which can escalate into armed conflicts.

The love of God is a reminder to everyone that despite the differences in race, gender, religion, or any other factor, we are all His children. It emphasizes the need to work together instead of working against one another. It is a major reminder of the fact that most of the existential threats that people face, such as a major pandemic, drought, flooding, climate change, and a possible nuclear war, are indiscriminate in their destruction. As such, working together toward solving these problems is critical.

The love of God is one of the most effective tools that can facilitate success in the fight against crime. Weston (2020) explains that there are numerous reasons why people engage in criminal enterprises. One may engage in crime because of a lack of basic needs such as food.

In a society where everyone embraces the love of God and the need to share the little that they have with the less fortunate, the number of those who lack such basic needs will be significantly reduced. The less fortunate will get the needed assistance from government agencies, non-governmental agencies, and religious centers. With such support from society, they will lack the motivation to engage in crime.

Some people engage in crime because of a strong desire for revenge. According to Nawls (2022), a significant number of those who have been convicted of serious crimes such as murder cite their primary motive as revenge. Once they feel aggrieved, they develop plans to hurt those who they believe are responsible.

In Romans 12:19-21, the bible says, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink” (King James Version, 1769/2017). The Bible will remind such individuals to avoid taking the law into their hands. Heeding such teachings will significantly reduce cases of crime in the community.

Some of the major crimes in the country are motivated by hatred and intolerance. Roper (2019) argues that there are cases where a section of society feels that there are those who do not belong and pose an existential threat to the majority through acts of terrorism.

On the other hand, the minority who feel sidelined get the sense that they do not have a place to achieve socio-economic and political success in the country. When the hatred is not put in check, it can easily get out of control, and people may consider acting in criminal ways to express their frustrations (Pérez, 2021). The love of God can help fight hatred and eliminate possible cases of attacks by one group directed at the other.

Conclusion and Recommendation for Future Studies

Conclusion

The love of God is a powerful tool that can transform the lives of believers. As shown in the paper, life presents numerous challenges that can affect the life of a person in many ways. These challenges can cause hatred, anger, pessimism, worry, discouragement, bitterness, negativism, and worry, all of which are highly destructive forces. These destructive forces can only be overcome when one experiences the love of God. One needs to understand that God created humankind in his image and allowed him to have power over all the other creations and natural resources.

There is a need for one to understand the sources of God’s love. The findings of this study reveal that scripture is one of the most important sources of God’s love. When one reads the bible, one can understand how God blesses His people in unique ways. They get to learn that even the most loved children of God sometimes go through trials and tribulations. Such challenges are meant to prepare an individual for greater success in life. As such, they should not be viewed as a sign that the presence and the love of God are no longer upon an individual.

Having a positive relationship with others was identified as another source of God’s love. A person who maintains a positive relationship with people around them is likely to experience the love of God. Appreciating the beauty of nature is another way of experiencing the love of God, especially when one realizes that God granted man the authority to use it as he pleases. The study also shows that service to God and humankind is another major source of God’s love.

The study then focused on determining recipients of God’s love. The respondents in this study overwhelmingly agreed with the fact that the love of God is meant for everyone and that no specific individual or group of people is more entitled to it than others. We are all His creation and, as such, are all entitled to benefit from this love.

However, the study warns that sometimes, our actions make it impossible for us to experience love. A person who constantly abuses drugs and alcohol or engages in physical fights is likely to get hurt. Their actions may cause them physical and psychological pain, which may make them question the love of God. The word of God says that as we believe that God will grant us success, we are expected to do something about it. Those who work hard towards their success are likely to experience his blessings, and they will feel loved.

The love of God has major spiritual implications for a believer’s life. Findings made from the primary data analysis show that the love of God brings peace and hope. In an environment where many forces can lead to unprecedented conflicts, the love of God always brings unity. It is also a source of hope whenever one is going through major challenges in life.

Some of the participants felt that the love of God is a source of satisfaction. Those who believe in Him and follow His teachings tend to be more content with their life. Love also brings faith and courage among believers. One may be tempted to give up when faced with numerous challenges. However, knowing that God’s love and protection are upon us grants people the courage to move forward.

The respondents also felt that His love heals broken hearts. People go through numerous frustrations and painful events in life. The love of God is comforting, as one is reminded that the misfortunes will soon be gone. The study also shows that this love creates the ability to forgive ourselves.

The investigation also revealed that the love of God has direct physical implications for people. The study shows that those who understand and embrace the love of God will realize the significance of protecting their physical health. They will avoid abusing drugs and alcohol because they know that their bodies are temples of God that have to be protected.

Taking such measures is an assurance that one will maintain good health. Such individuals are also less likely to get involved in physical fights because they know God does not want them to revenge even when they are attacked. These are measures that help an individual avoid physical harm.

The study then focused on the sociological effects of the love of God. In a country that is as culturally diversified as Canada, many factors may cause differences among people. Respondents in this study noted that the love of God helps promote peace in society and avoid divisive socio-political rhetoric.

Those who believe in God’s love also understand the significance of promoting unity. Humanity faces numerous challenges, such as major pandemics such as COVID-19, major earthquakes, climate change, drought, flooding, and many other natural calamities. These challenges can only be overcome if people work together as a unit to find a common solution.

The study also shows that the love of God promotes diversity in a community. One of the challenges that often emerge is that sometimes, a section of society may believe they are superior to the rest because of their race, religion, gender, or political affiliations. Those who experience the love of God and regularly read the bible will understand that diversity is critical in addressing the different challenges that we face.

There is a reason why God created man and woman, and when people from diverse backgrounds come together to address a specific problem, they can develop innovative solutions. This love helps to promote tolerance as people learn that every person has a role to play in society. Those who embrace God’s love do everything within their power to fight extremism and promote a peaceful society. The love of God also offers the best strategy for fighting crime in society. In a society where people embrace the love of God, the propensity to commit a crime is significantly low.

Evaluation of Study and Scope for Further Research

This study has provided an in-depth analysis of the love of God based on both primary and secondary data. The research has shown that everyone experiences the love of God at one stage of their lives. Even among those who do not believe in God, some incidents happen in their lives that make them believe that there was a divine intervention in their lives.

Sometimes, it is our actions that deny us the opportunity to experience the love of God. When one’s primary attention is to hurt others, then evil thoughts would cloud their judgment. In their twisted minds, they will expect God to assist them in their evil deeds. The study has outlined sources of God’s love in the lives of His people.

The paper also explains the recipients of the love of God. It is evident that everyone is a recipient of the love of God, but our actions and attitude toward others may make some individuals greater recipients of His love than others.

The study has provided a detailed discussion of the spiritual effects of the love of God, the physical effects, and the psychological impact. It discusses how those who experience the love of God get impacted physically, spiritually, and sociologically. It outlines the significance of Christians appreciating the love of God by assessing the little and major successes in their lives and how it would not have been possible for them to succeed without his guidance and support.

When conducting this study, a major gap was identified that needs further studies to address. Respondents were asked to state if God loves all His children in equal measure. When reviewing the literature, this issue remained unclear.

Some scholars believe that some people receive greater love from God than others, just as was the case in the bible. They believe that this greater love would be manifested in academic success, financial success, good health, long life, a good family, and good neighborhoods.

It is almost impossible for people to have the same level of success. In a classroom setting, some students will be more successful than others. There will be those at the top and those at the bottom of academic performance. They associate that with the unique gifts that God grants His children, which vary in measure. The same is the case in life, where some people become more successful than others.

On the other hand, some scholars argue that Jesus teaches about equality. When Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, he demonstrated that sometimes a master can serve his servants. It was the greatest level of humility meant to emphasize the fact that no human being is considered of lesser value than others. Those who believe in God’s love for his children believe that people use the wrong barometers to measure the love.

Roper (2019) argues that God blesses his people in different ways. A student may be an academic dwarf but may excel in sports. They can use their talent in sports to pursue a career that would grant them great success in life, while brilliant students can pursue a career in engineering or medicine.

Assessing the blessings of the Lord using a specific measure can be misleading. One may not be as wealthy as one’s neighbor, but God would grant them a healthy and long life. It is the same God that gave one person financial success and another good health and longevity. People fail to realize that both are unique blessings from God.

The analysis of primary data collected from the participants demonstrates that confusion still exists. Those who were interviewed could not agree on whether God’s love is equal to all his children. Future scholars need to conduct further studies on this issue. The researcher believes that God’s love for humanity is the same, and the only difference is the way it manifests in their lives.

The researcher also believes that many people view academic success and economic prosperity as the only signs that God loves an individual. This one-sided approach to assessing God’s love is wrong and limits the ability of an individual to appreciate the numerous benefits that God has granted them. The personal opinion of the researcher on the issue notwithstanding, there is a need to investigate this issue further.

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Appendices

Appendix 1: Questionnaire

Experiencing the Love of God

Dear Sir/Madam,

It is with great humility that we invite you to participate in this study that focuses on investigating love of God in our lives. Literature shows that different people experience the love of God in different ways and in different settings. I would like to invite you to share with me your personal experiences, especially how the love of God has manifested in your life or the life of your loved ones. Kindly answer the following questions to the best of your knowledge.

Demographical Background

• Kindly select your age group from the list below
  • 18-24 Years;
  • 25-35 Years;
  • 36-45 Years;
  • 46-55 Years;
  • Over 55 Years.
• Kindly state your nationality?
  • Canadian;
  • Foreign National.
• Kindly state your gender
  • Male;
  • Female.

Educational Background and Experience

• What is your highest academic qualification? Kindly select from the list below.
  • High school diploma;
  • College diploma;
  • Degree;
  • Master;
  • Doctorate;
  • Other (kindly specify).
• Do you have any academic qualifications in the field of theology?
  • Yes.
  • No.
• Are you currently holding any leadership position in your church?
  • Yes.
  • No.
• How long have you held the position stated in question 6 above (Only for the current leaders)?
  • Less than a years;
  • 2-4 years;
  • 5-8 years;
  • 9-10 years;
  • Over 10 years.
• Did you convert from other religious beliefs to Christianity?
  • Yes.
  • No.
• How long have you been practicing Christianity after converting? (Only meant for those who converted to Christianity from other religious beliefs)
  • Less than a years;
  • 2-4 years;
  • 5-8 years;
  • 9-10 years;
  • Over 10 years.

Experiencing the Love of God

• How would you define the love of God
  • _____________________
• Do you believe that all Christians experience the love of God at one stage of their lives or another?
  • Strongly agree;
  • Agree;
  • Not sure;
  • Disagree;
  • Strongly disagree.
• What are some of the steps that you believe one needs to take to regularly experience the love of God? (Kindly provide a short explanation).
  • ____________________
• What are the main reasons why some people fail to experience the love of God? (Kindly provide a short explanation).
  • _____________________
• Do you believe that something can be done to enhance a believer’s ability to experience the love of God?
  • Strongly agree;
  • Agree;
  • Not sure;
  • Disagree;
  • Strongly disagree.
• What is the source of God’s love? (Kindly provide a short explanation).
  • ____________________
• Who are the recipients of God’s love? (Kindly provide a short explanation).
  • ____________________
• Do you believe that the love of God is equal to all His children?
  • Strongly agree;
  • Agree;
  • Not sure;
  • Disagree;
  • Strongly disagree.
• Do you believe that born-again Christians are more likely to experience the love of God that those who are not?
  • Strongly agree;
  • Agree;
  • Not sure;
  • Disagree;
  • Strongly disagree.
• What are some of the specific spiritual effects of the love of God? (Kindly list them).
  • __
  • __
  • __
  • __
  • __
  • __
• What are some of the specific physical effects of the love of God? (Kindly list them)
  • __
  • __
  • __
  • __
  • __
  • __
• What are some of the specific sociological effects of the love of God? (Kindly list them).
  • __
  • __
  • __
  • __
  • __
  • __

Thank you for taking your time to respond to the above questions. May the good Lord continue blessing you in all your endeavors, and may you continue experiencing His abundant love.