How can I deepen my Sadhna as a beginner for Lord Shiva?

I have been feeling uncertain/ mentally exhausted and low/stuck/helpless sometimes since a week/two and today while heading home I was feeling sad and helpless and almost on the verge of a crying, felt like I dint want to directly go home so initially thought of going to Hanumanji temple on the way but saw that it was shut and my eyes welled up, felt that I really needed that space to be there for sometime and just sit alone and let my emotions just be, and suddenly remembered Vikas Khanna’s story (I don’t remember exact details but this is just the gist) where he mentioned he was feeling extremely low and helpless once and decided to go to a Gurudwara he used to visit frequently and that same day it was shut due to some construction work for a change and felt even God has closed his doors for him but that was the turning point of his life before he decided to go to USA, and mentioned how that one moment looking back, changed something for him because he told his sister what happened and she motivated him to go to USA and follow his dream.

I just kept walking and went to shiva temple near my house where I go frequently when I get time. I saw a lady cleaning the Shiva linga and nagdevta and suddenly I heard her moaning in pain and I asked her what happened, she told me she got hurt while cleaning the Nagdevta, so I asked her if I could help her and she said sure, and suddenly she said happily that I’m definitely sent by shiva himself to help her. I started cleaning the Shiva linga and then again she said the same thing and told me to take one of the garlands home and hang it on my door outside once I’m done with cleaning the lingam and the surrounding area. I surprisingly started feeling better, forgot that feeling of helplessness, and felt extremely grateful the moment she agreed to let me help her because I got the opportunity to do seva. I truly believe he guided me and made me reach there at the right time so that I could be of help. He was genuinely looking out for me. I try and do japa mala of Om Namah Shivay (I have received Diksha) whenever possible but I’m not consistent. I try to chant it mentally throughout the day whenever I remember. I feel this connection with him which I can’t explain in words, where I feel he’s there looking out for me like a father who’s there for his daughter, and he’s present with me. I want to know how can I deepen my Sadhna and bhakti for him?