When duas feel unanswered: Keeping iman strong during tough times

Salaam, everyone. So I’ve been working toward this big goal for months-putting in effort, making progress slowly, but honestly, I’m not where I hoped to be yet. I’ve prayed Tahajjud, made tons of dua, even asked others to make dua for me. But sometimes it feels like nothing’s changing, and I start wondering: are my duas even being accepted? Does dua really work without going through a long test or a lot of hardship? At my lowest, it even feels like a punishment, and I get so frustrated that I pray less or pull back from my deen. I’m really passionate about this goal, and I don’t want to lose faith. Any advice on staying patient and trusting Allah’s timing?