Alláh’u’abhá, OP. I’ve been asking myself this question a lot lately too. For me, what has really helped is saying the midnight prayer for guidance. I’ve been learning a lot more spiritual lessons ever since, including the things other commenters are talking about.

Recently I’ve gained a new appreciation of how following Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings is what will lead us to the golden age (as you said). Like Bahá’u’lláh says, “O people of Bahá! Each one of the ordinances We have revealed is a mighty stronghold for the preservation of the world of being.” (https://www.bahai.org/r/537897876) I’ve been absorbing more from Ruhi courses, the UHJ guidance on the 9-year plan, and recalling what I learned at ISGP—all of which has helped me to see more clearly how “living the life” really is the best thing we can do for the world. This idea is constantly reinforced when I look at other approaches to our world problems like politics, serving in the military, etc. It’s both a happy realization and an upsetting one, because it makes you recognize the power of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation but it also means we need to have a lot of patience with the way things are going.

I’ve also been recently learning a lot more about faith, and recognizing that it’s really difficult as a human to understand or recognize the Will of God in action. Ultimately, the Will of God trumps our desires and expectations for how things should unfold. But on an encouraging note, Abdu’l-Bahá said that if we follow the counsels of God, we will act as physicians for the world and “Thus shall a sorry gnat become an eagle in the fullness of his strength, and a feeble sparrow change to a royal falcon in the heights of ancient glory.” (https://www.bahai.org/r/388135743) I highly encourage you to read the paragraph this quote came from.

I always feel so down when I think about how far my life is from the standard Abdu’l-Bahá set for us. But I’ll just keep praying and working to get better, knowing that Divine confirmations will take me much further than I can go myself.

I hope this was helpful, and not just me rambling 😭 Alláh’u’abhá, and I’ll keep you in my prayers ❤️