Yeah.

Sometimes %#@&#! happens. And people pray and pray and pray and pray and pray and you know what? %#@&#! just keeps on happening.

Like when little me preyed for the abuse to stop and it didn't. It got worse as I got older as a matter of fact.

God allowed Satan to test Job not because his faith was weak, but precisely because his faith was strong. The bible tells me so...

My faith wasn't particularly strong...

But yeah... %#@&#! happened and continued to happen despite prayer. Maybe all those people dying of starvation and / or dehydration simply aren't preying enough or maybe they are preying to the wrong god but I don't see their situation being alleviated either.

I personally don't believe that prayer is a magic fix...

I think it is more about hope for things to get better (if not in this life than in the afterlife)
I think it is more about being grateful for small mercies (drinking water or food or shelter or whatever)

I'm sorry things are hard for you

Take care.

(P.S. Yes I think it is possible to be denied by God. I bet you a million bucks I could prey everyday for God to give me wings so I can fly like a bird in this lifetime and God would not grant me my request)

The New Testament says something about if you accept Jesus into your heart then you ARE saved (so if your heart is pure when you accept Jesus into your heart in the sense that you are genuine with your words) then God won't deny you and you ARE saved. But for the people who have trouble mustering the 'genuine' aspect of that... I guess God denies them too...