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Why do good things happen to those who don't even believe in God?

This person is about to take a very important exam for his career and I had encouraged him to pray for God to help him. His reply was, "why is it that people of other cultures and faiths are passing with flying colors, whereas for me, who is a Christian, is struggling? Does God make us weaker so that we need His help to pass or does He help them pass even though they deny Him?”

I know that through the grace of God and His Holy Spirit, we are not weak but strong and our strength is only from Him. But, why is it that, as a generalization, many non-Christians are so successful professionally?

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," is a common saying used in the US and in other parts of the world. Success also needs to be defined in the eye of the beholder. Our God is the only God, merciful and just. We are reminded of His incomprehensible fairness and generosity to all people when we pray the Absolutions of the Prime (1st hour):
"O Lord, God of Hosts, Who exists before all ages and abides forever, Who created the sun for daylight, and the night as rest for all men; we thank You, O King of ages, for You have let us pass through the night in peace, and brought us to the daybreak” (1st Absolution)....

"O God Who causes the light to burst forth, Who lets His sun shine upon the righteous and the wicked, Who created the light which illuminates the whole world, enlighten our minds, our hearts, and our understandings, O Master of all, and grant us to please You this present day” (2nd Absolution).

God has not left any human to be born empty. This does not mean that all people will value each one's God-given talents, but nevertheless He has not sent any one empty. For some, their talent is academics, for others, their goal is being the top of the class. Some strive for athletic excellence, others yearn to acquire financial empires, while yet others set their sights on social prosperity. Some people find their skills to be in manual dexterity, and others in music and in the arts. Each person has a set of God-given talents, skills, and abilities to take with them on their journey through life. Although these talents differ, they are rationed according to each person's need in the foreknowledge of God. Satan, being envious of man, accused God of pampering Job and hedging him around with a wall of safety of material success. For this reason, the devil claimed that Job was not really this so-proclaimed righteous man whom God praised, but rather sneered that Job would have long ago left God if he did not have these material blessings. Satan was again proven wrong, for the soul of Job was content with God, and although his possessions vanished, yet his faith remained steadfast.

It is the gift of contentment for which Christians possess and for which they ought to continue to strive. A satisfied soul does not desire anything more for which to be satiated, for it is already overflowing with God's love and joy. This abundance of joy comes from the Holy Spirit, for gifts are given by the grace of God from the time of the person's new birth in the Holy Sacrament of Baptism. Inappropriate generalizations are often made because of envy. Christians are neither unsuccessful because they are Christians, and likewise, non-Christians are not successful because they are not Christians. There are many Christians, just by name, amongst other non-Christians, who have acquired innumerable worldly success, but still face a vacuum of emptiness in their hearts and souls for they did not place God at the pinnacle of their idea of success. Notwithstanding, there are many people who live day-in and day-out in utter poverty, but have joyful hearts because they have God in their lives. Many are the faithful Christians who are very wealthy, have experienced great success in their academics, in their professions, and in their personal lives, and still value their faith above all. Therefore, it is not right to envy. Each one of us should strive to do our best, to discover and apply 100% of the talents, skills, and abilities which God has graciously bestowed upon us. Be assured that God does not weaken us, but in our weaknesses, He is our strength and fortress, and in our strength, He is our crown and glory. Therefore, success ought to be measured by living according to God's will, contentment in all that God has bestowed upon us by His pure and holy hands, a humble spirit of dedication, growth, and self-improvement, joy in giving unto others the best of what we possess, and cognizance in that all that we are and all that we have, are His, and for this, we gladly rejoice in the abundance of His love, and have no need for anything.

“Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive[a] the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:1-9).