What is faith?

The dictionary would define "faith" this way: "A confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, and idea, or a thing. A belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. Theology: a secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will."

The principle Bible definition is in Hebrews 11:1 -- "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Now notice, Faith is the SUBSTANCE -- the marginal rendering says "ASSURANCE" -- of things HOPED FOR. You do not HOPE for that which you already HAVE. So FAITH comes BEFORE possession.
Once you have RECEIVED the POSSESSION, you no longer HOPE for it. But even before you receive it, you have it in SUBSTANCE -- and that substance -- that ASSURANCE that you SHALL possess it, is FAITH.

Then again, faith is an EVIDENCE -- the evidence of things NOT SEEN. Faith PRECEDES the actual receiving of what you ask for. And faith is the EVIDENCE you have, or SHALL have it, BEFORE you even see it. It is the EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT YET SEEN. You do not have it. You do not SEE it, or FEEL it -- yet faith is your EVIDENCE that you have or shall have it -- faith is the substance, the ASSURANCE of receiving that you still HOPE for.