God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. John does not say: God has love. He says: God is love. That is his nature, not just an attribute.
Abiding in love does not mean constantly producing warm feelings. It means remaining in what God has done in Christ. God's love does not depend on your love in return, it stands because that is who he is.
Whoever grasps this stops trying to earn God's affection. You are loved. Not because you are lovable, but because he is love.