i also never understood the davening – it can feel as if you’re literally talking to a wall. but then i realized that when it said that Hashem answered Chana’s and Sara’s tefillos, it didn’t mean that that was the first time they davened. but rather after davening, and davening, finally, for some reason, that tefillah was answered. maybe all those tefillos add up and get us to do that one davening, and then Hashem answers us immediately or it’s the culmination of all the davening. or our davening changes us and/or our bashert to make us more ready for marriage.
one rebbetzin once told me that she and her husband changed/grew during marriage, while she sees that many people have to grow tremendously/change before marriage. why some 1 way and some another, no clue.
so good luck and keep davening. and remember that the best davening is not from the mind, but from the heart.