Love is as simple as the absence of self given to another. God, when invited, fills the void of any unrequited love; hence loving is how one is drawn closer to God no matter its most horrific repercussions.
Easily mistaken, it is not about a love for adversity, it is about knowing a strength and a faith so great that adversity, in all its adverse manifestations, hardly even exists.
The only way you're going to reach places you've never gone is if you trust God's direction to do things you've never done.
In our worldly perceptions of Jesus, we tend to embrace the kindness of his love ('be encouraged') but not the discipline of his love ('and sin no more'). But with the whole scope of his love, or maturity in Christ, we begin relying on him for guidance where we would prefer him to walk beside us rather than behind us.
If you don't know what to do with your life, you should start right where you're at... right now. Get involved in a local church. Start praying for people around you. Begin reading Scriptures and ask God to show you His purpose for your life. It may seem like a large task to begin, but just look at life as picking up one piece after another until you start to see something brand new.