Whether you call it "God" or something else...

you do need something, somebody, or somewhere to rest yourself.
Let's not worry too much about its "name" if that bothers you.
When you are going through a challenging time, if you think you can handle it by your own ability, then it may not be a real challenge but may be some exercise type..
The "real" challenge may be the one for which you might say, "I cannot handle this anymore", "That's it for my life", "Oh, God, it would be better if I were dead", etc. etc.
And these types of challenges are the ones which might present to you the doorways to that "resting" something, somewhere, or somebody.

But to make it happen, it strongly requires your willing participation in exercising your so-called "human responsibility" based on your "free will".
True "peace" can come when you access to that "....", or, you will find yourself frustrated by some forces outside of yourself, meaning you are not "free"

When things seem to be getting worse, look again...

The real "thing" you have been looking for may be coming closer.

Is life a dream or a challenge?

Life is a challenge, or, an encyclopedia of challenges. When I was younger, as an idealistic boy, I thought everything too simple...but, when I grew older and experienced more "real" life, I realized things are not that simple. And rather, life provides us with so many different challenges.

Then, my conclusion so far is that God provides us with challenges for reasons. Challenges are catalyst for our spiritual growth and maturity if we accept them with proper attitude, namely, with gratitude and humility, so to speak...

Don't take anything too personal but welcome things with God, asking right questions. How would he want me to grow out of this? What am I learning out of this? What gratitude can I find out of this? Each person will uniquely grow through this with a common attitude--gratitude and humility.

Yes, your life does affect your descendants in terms of what you value and how you deal with things. You are not alone...