Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
This is a famous scripture. Most of us can quote it backward and forward. The true test comes not in the quoting but in the believing. Sometimes people don't believe something until they see "the evidence" or "the facts". Sometimes we need three confirmations and a possible before we will move/act on the word.
Faith operates when you don't really have the perfect crime scene where the evidence is laid out in front of you like on Law and Order or Criminal Minds. Sometimes it is okay to investigate to get to the truth of where you faith lies. You can investigate your past to see where there are clues of a time or two or three when you thought you were not going to make it and God came through. You can look at your friends and family and see the evidence of a true and living God working things out for their good. You can search for clues in your heart and see that heart change that only happened as a result of faith the last time.
When you find that little "shred of evidence" therein lies the hope in the NOW. Hope that this too shall pass, hope that you will find favor once again, hope that God sees your pain and knows exactly when to step in a raise up a standard for your impeding victory! If faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God, I heard - NOW FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Walk in faith my friend, no matter what the "crime" scene looks like. There is enough evidence for that hope that you need right NOW to operate in FAITH!