How to not doubt that God loves me?

The feeling of doubt about being loved by God can arise for many individuals at certain points in their lives, especially during times of hardship, suffering, or when facing major challenges. However, the Holy Quran, the divine word, is replete with verses that explicitly express God's boundless love and compassion for His servants, offering clear guidance on how to dispel such doubts and strengthen certainty. To eliminate doubts about God's love for us, we must deeply ponder His divine verses and observe the signs of His affection in the universe and in our own lives. The first and most fundamental step is to know God's names and attributes. The Quran introduces God with attributes such as "Ar-Rahman" (The Most Gracious, merciful to all creation), "Ar-Rahim" (The Most Merciful, especially merciful to believers), "Al-Wadud" (The Most Loving), "Al-Ghafur" (The All-Forgiving), and "At-Tawwab" (The Acceptor of Repentance). These attributes alone attest to His absolute love and compassion. When God calls Himself "Al-Wadud," it means He is the origin and source of all love and affection, and He truly loves His servants from the bottom of His heart. His mercy is so encompassing that it extends even to those who deny Him or commit sins. This general mercy (Rahmaniyah) indicates that God's very essence is based on love and mercy, and loving His servants is inherent in His being, not an incidental matter that can change. His specific mercy (Rahimiyah) for believers includes guiding them to the straight path and granting them infinite rewards in this world and the hereafter, which represents the pinnacle of divine love. The second way to dispel doubt is to reflect on creation and the countless blessings God has bestowed upon us. From the creation of the heavens and the earth, the precise order of the cosmos, the cycle of life, to the minutest details of the human body and daily blessings like water, air, food, health, family, and friends – all are clear signs of divine love and grace. God states in the Quran: "And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful" (Ibrahim, 14:34). All this provision and wise management for human comfort and growth can only stem from endless love and friendship. How can we believe that someone who has created such a magnificent world for us and provided all the means for our life and development does not love us? The third point is to consider God's forgiveness and acceptance of repentance. Perhaps some individuals feel unworthy of God's love due to their sins, but the Quran strongly refutes this notion. In Surah Az-Zumar, verse 53, God says: "Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'" This verse opens a vast door of hope and boundless divine love to all sinners. The fact that God, despite our faults, always keeps His arms of mercy open, accepts us with every repentance, and forgives our sins, is the greatest proof of His unconditional love. He wants us to return to Him, not to drown in despair. This return of His to us through forgiveness is an immense mercy that calms troubled hearts. Fourth, it is crucial to understand that trials and tribulations are not always signs of God's displeasure; sometimes, these very difficulties are another manifestation of His love. Trials can be a means of expiating sins, elevating the degree of faith, spiritual growth, and awakening. God says in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 155: "And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient." For believers, these trials are an opportunity to draw closer to God through patience and reliance, and to uncover His hidden wisdoms. A parent who disciplines their child for greater growth and upbringing does so out of love, not unkindness. Divine love also sometimes manifests in the form of difficulties to refine us and bring us to perfection. Fifth, establishing continuous communication with God through supplication, remembrance (dhikr), and worship. When a servant sincerely prays and knows that God hears and answers their prayers, this sense of connection itself is the greatest factor in assuring divine love. God states in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 186: "And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided." This verse demonstrates that God is closer to us than our jugular vein and is always ready to listen and respond to His servants. This closeness and readiness to answer is a strong testament to His unparalleled love. Finally, for our doubts about God's love to be dispelled, we must constantly be in a state of gratitude. When we focus on the blessings and divine graces instead of what we lack or our problems, our hearts will be filled with certainty about God's love. Gratitude opens up more doors of divine mercy to us and helps us feel God's loving presence in every moment of our lives. Therefore, by reflecting on verses, understanding divine attributes, contemplating creation, repenting and seeking forgiveness, being patient in trials, and establishing constant connection through prayer and remembrance, we can become certain that God loves us immensely and is never heedless of us.