One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Job 1:6-12

The book of Job begins with a showdown, God pointing out Job’s righteousness and Satan wanting to bring Job down. God allowed Satan to disrupt Job’s life, but established parameters around the attack—no physical harm can be done to Job (the rules change in Job 2).

So the answer is yes, God does allow “challenges” to occur in our lives for the purpose of advancing His causes. For example, Joseph, the boy sold into slavery by his brothers and eventually rose to be second in command at Egypt, understood this:

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:19-20

We must always remember that Satan cannot work beyond the restraints God has established.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

We aren’t pawns in some celestial game of chess, but God’s people in the process of refining our faith and character. God allows challenges and Satan’s attacks, to help us accomplish maturity and strength in our faith.