Something you said (if I wrote it down correctly), was “just believe”. Robert Rauch and I have been studying faith and what it really is and means to have faith. I think you must believe before faith comes.

I have been thinking about your question on faith. Something else that has hit me over the years (I have never taken the time to study it) is the word “believe”. It is a very deep word when I think about it.

“To exercise belief in; to credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of, upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions ofthe mind, or by circumstances other than personal knowledge; to regard or accept as true; to place confidence in; to think; to consider; as, to believe a person, a statement, or a doctrine. ”
Why do I believe the word of God in scripture? Because of the testimony of the saints. Summary —Faith Explained. The Faith of the Elders. Remarkable Examples of Ancient Faith. All Seeking for a Better Country. The Victories of Faith. The Sufferings Endured by Faith. Christians Exhorted to Follow These Glorious Examples.1–3. Faith is the substance. The old meaning of substance, as well as of Hupostasis, the Greek word here used, is “stand under,” that is to be a foundation. Faith is the foundation on which all our hopes for the future are built. The evidence. Rather, the conviction or persuasion of things not seen. Without faith we would be limited to the very narrow world comprehended by the senses. 2. For by it the elders, etc. The ancient men of God, through faith, so lived, that they have obtained a good name. 3. Through faith we understand, etc. The creation of the world is among “the things not seen,” and all our knowledge of it rests upon our faith in the word of God. Indeed, our knowledge of all past history depends upon faith. 4–7. Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. See the account of Gen. 4:1–5. Abel’s faith was probably shown in offering just such a sacrifice as the Lord demanded, while Cain made an offering according to his own ideas. Obtained witness. In some way the Lord testified his approval of Abel’s sacrifice, and showed his disapproval of Cain’s, perhaps by sending fire to consume Abel’s. By it. By his faith. His faith speaks to all ages. 5. By faith Enoch was translated.

I have forgotten who to give the credit to for the above. Probably Grudem; it wasn’t mine.