By Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the substance of things hoped for or faith is that of which things hoped for consists. Faith is not seeing, but believing. Everything in the physical world has substance in some form or fashion. Faith is the substance through which the spiritual things become physical. Everything that exists has a primary building block.

By faith we know that God created the worlds by His word. There is the physical world and also there is the spiritual world. One is just as real as the other. The physical world operates by the spiritual just like your physical body operates by your spirit. When the spirit leaves the body, the physical body dies. Faith is the substance which brings the spiritual into the physical. The spiritual is everlasting whereas the physical is temporal. So, faith is the substance which brings the everlasting into the physical.

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Evidence means proof. Faith is the proof of things past, done in eternity, but not seen by man. It is proof of my salvation, it is proof of creation, it is proof of the righteousness of Christ, it is proof of the redemption of Christ, it is proof of the resurrection of Christ. Faith is the proof of things to come in the future, now unseen; the resurrection of the dead, the judgement, eternal glory. Proof means assurance. We have assurance in these things. We have assurance in salvation. We have assurance of the Creator. We have assurance in Jesus Christ. We have assurance in the coming day, in the blood of Jesus Christ, in awaiting glory. Blessed assurance.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. -Romans 10:17

Faith comes from hearing the Word of God, but it is substantiated by hope that come from things like tribulation, patience, and experience. Whatever you are going through - God can turn it around! God can turn something around that works against you and make it work out for you instead. By the grace of God, He will see you through and you will come away with greater hope and greater faith.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. -Romans 5:1-5

Yes, God can use hardships and trials to your advantage and give you greater faith substantiated by hope. Faith adds a reference on the Word of God based on what you have gone through, your personal encounters and difficulties in which you rely on God. It's those difficulties that cause you to be desperate in prayer and bring you closer to the Lord with the growing assurance that He will deliver you, He will see you through.