Seeking Certainty on the Path to Allah

Assalamu alaikum, everyone. I’m at a point in my life where I feel I’m drawing closer to Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, and I’m sincerely searching for the ultimate truth about our existence. I want to understand if there’s any real knowledge that explains why we are here and what comes after. Lately, I’ve been looking into Islam, but I got caught in a cycle: I’d learn something, then hear criticisms against it, then find Islamic responses to those criticisms, and so on. It felt endless and spiritually draining. I realized that constantly switching between listening to critics and believers wasn’t getting me anywhere. So I’ve decided to stop reading all the online debates and stories, whether positive or negative, and instead focus directly on the Quran itself. Right now, I’m reading the Quran along with a tafsir to really try to grasp its meaning and see if it truly is the word of Allah. If anyone else has been through this kind of exhausting search, I’d really appreciate your advice. What helped you the most? Could you point me toward the compelling evidence about Islam that truly convinces the intellect? The more I read, the more I see people saying that Allah wants us to find Him by using our minds and through sincere seeking. Well, my heart is open, Ya Allah. And my mind is seeking. Any advice, guidance, or good sources would be so welcome. Jazakum Allahu khayran.