Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Substance, the evidence of faith.
So you don't think that the substance is the 'reason' for the hope (believe) it is true? The 'reason' being the evidence of the thing(s) unseen?
So if someone asks you what you believe then wouldn't a person with faith be able to articulate a reason for the hope in them?
It is written in 1 Peter 3:15 that one should:
"....be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you
a reason of
the hope that is in you ..."
If a person had faith in something then would they have a reason for that hope. I have faith that the heaven and earth was created. Created being meant to defines something which is brought into existence that never existed before in either form or nature. That isn't the substance of faith, that is the hope, or thing I believe.
The substance of faith is the reason that the thing hoped is true contrary to the data and hopes of others that believe the universe was not created but has existed forever.
If is reason is because the universe does not reflect the eternal nature then the external nature must be definable.
If the eternal nature is not definable then my faith would have no evidence.
However, if the eternal nature can be defined then if the nature of the universe can be demonstrated as not having the eternal nature, then the evidence of my faith is that the nature of the universe does not reflect it being eternal; Therefore there is substance to hope what I believe is true.