for a feeling of love before loving, we may never learn to love
well. The feeling of love is beautiful and life-giving, but our
loving cannot be based in that feeling. To love is to think,
speak, and act according to the spiritual knowledge that we
are infinitely loved by God and called to make that love visible in this world. Mostly we know what the loving thing to do is. When we "do" love, even if others are not able to respond with love, we will discover that our feelings catch up with our acts. (Henri Nouwen)
 

Jesus didn't feel the Father's love or presence while he suffered for our sake. He chose to love the Father by embracing his will. Jesus didn't feel love for us on the cross. He chose to love us despite the lack of feeling. Why do we wait for the feeling before plunging ourselves into the act of love? More often than not, in the genuinely loving act we will have a better chance to feel love. But even if there is no feeling, the act of love was worth it.