Where do you get this?
If anything happened before we were ever born it was the choosing of the elect.
11 (For the children being not yet born , neither having done any good or evil, that
the purpose of God according to election might stand , not of works,
but of him that calleth 
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written , Jacob have I loved , but Esau have I hated .
Rom. 9:11-13
God did chose us before we were ever born on an unconditional basis. This is the only context where the term "unmerited favor" applies. It was based on nothing that we did. We were not even born.
It was going to be according to the purpose of God. He decided before the world began to draw certain ones to himself. He also decided not to draw certain others. Jacob he loved before he was born. Esau he hated before he was born.
Paul continues:
14 What shall we say then ? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid .
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy , and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion . 16 So then it is not of him that willeth , nor of him that runneth , but of God that sheweth mercy .
Romans 9:14-16
Note God does not say he will have compassion and mercy on everyone but rather upon whom he will. Paul defends God by saying there is nothing wrong with that. Paul shows us why God is just in doing it that way.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up , that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth . 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault ? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God ? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Rom. 9:17-21
Paul reasons since God made the vessels he has the right to do whatever he wants with them. Some he makes for honor others for dishonor. This is called "the sovereignty of God".
So our calling or drawing to God is unconditional in that its based soley on the will of God. As Paul said "who has resisted his will"?
He continues
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known , endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called , not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Rom. 9:22-24
Rather than loving all mankind in the mothers womb some are prepared as vessels fitted to destruction. Paul said God is willing to show his wrath and make his power known unto the vessels of mercy.
So it seems we can say Gods love is unconditional in the drawing of the elect. He draws they come. He has willed it to be so. And yet when they do come he then sets out conditions for his love.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;
even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
John 15:9-10
The condition he presents to us is if we keep his commandments we will remain in his love. It isn't that hard to see but I admit its much different than many have been taught.
The true God is love. But his love is nowhere I know of without condition except before we were born.
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