faith, what?

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Anything we hope for? Cuz there's a lot of things I hope for, but I don't know that they're necessarily what God wants for me. I hope to get married... I hope to have kids... I hope to have an effective ministry... I hope to travel the world with my gifts... but God never promised me the good life. He doesn't owe me anything. He would be completely fair and just to never bless me with anything. So who am I to be sure and certain that he will? I don't deserve any good gift that he gives.

Now, there are other things of which I hope for - I hope that Jesus will come back someday. I hope that I will spend eternity with him. And I am certain of other things that I don't see - that God is on his throne and he's in charge... that there exists another realm of spiritual forces of good and evil.

I have to trust that God is good:

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." Ps 34:8
"... no good thing does [God] withhold from those whose walk is blameless." Ps 84:11b
"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you." Ps 86:5
"For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Ps 100:5
"Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Ps 103:2,5
"You are good, and what you do is good." Ps 119:68
"The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." Ps 145:9
"No one is good - except God alone." Mk 10:18
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Jn 10:11
"...Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Rom 12:2b