How does the universe reward people?

Is it true that the universe takes everything from you to test to see if you are worthy of good things that will come your way? I am so tired, I feel like everything has been taken from me, my peace, my happiness, my health, my sanity, I truly feel empty. From talking to other spiritual people, they often tell me that the universe takes and takes to see how you are in situations of distress and then rewards. I feel like for 4 years I have just been waiting for some reward of what I truly want in life to come my way and haven't gotten it. Is it cause I put too much energy into things going wrong or do I expect too much? I believe in karma and I try to be a good person everyday but when bad things happen to me, I can't help but wonder what I did to deserve it because I truly don't feel like I did anything. Why do other horrible people get things they want but like I just feel like someone walking by hoping and not getting what I hoped for.