God is good?

As a follower of Christ one of the basic truths I understand is that "God is good." There are numerous verses in the Old and New Testaments which talk of this goodness; Psalm 34:8, Matthew 19:17, John 10:11, etc. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father..." -- James 1:17

So knowing what I am told concerning the goodness of the Father, in correlation to the fact that during this most recent storm N.O. was spared horrific flooding; should we, do we, attribute the safety of the city to God? Because after all was that not a good thing, the city did not getting destroyed again?

During Katrina people all over were making comments such as, "this is God's judgment on N.O., on the French Quarter, on all the sin in the city" and so forth. Well if that destruction was God's judgment, then was this week's lack of destruction God's blessing? Why is it when something bad happens we assume it is the wrath of God because of His anger against humanity? Yet when something good happens we are so quick to take credit rather than admit that He perhaps did provide security and heard our prayers for help -- i.e. "the government did a great job of funding the rebuilding of the levees" or "we really built those levees back strong" or "our leaders did a great job of getting our people out of harm's way this time" and so forth?

Do we not believe that God actually does care for humanity, that He is good, or that He wants good for us? Is it us against Him? The storm was His wrath, but this time because we were ready we were able to protect our selves? -- that does not make sense. Bad things happen because life happens not because God is out to get us. Jesus never taught a message of destruction or condemnation, rather His message was one of reconciliation ("God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him" Jn. 3:17). He wanted to bring us into a relationship with our Creator who loves us, not one who is ready to rip our worlds apart in hopes of proving to us our weakness and His almighty power.

The protection of the city and the people of the city during Gustav was good thing, perhaps it was just a result of being prepared, a simple part of life. The destruction of the city during Katrina was a bad thing, perhaps just a result of being unprepared, another part of the life/world we must all live in.

It is my belief that the "God is good" stuff steps in when good can be allowed through despite the negative circumstances. -- i.e. after Katrina millions of people pulled together, humanity served humanity, sacrifices were made for the good of someone besides ourselves, light was brought to a dark place (a place where previously such assistance would have been rejected), racial barriers were broken down, and trust was developed because in order to survive those steps had to take place. A circumstance that could have eaisly been used for evil was allowed to be used for many good things -- and in that I see God.

Colossians 2:13-15