Stoicism and Christianity, Part 1: Apatheia and a Personal God?

I've been reading the stoic philosophers lately and have been reflecting on the relationship between stoicism and Christianity.

I've always been deeply attracted to stoic philosophy. The aspect of their thinking I find most appealing is the notion of apatheia. Apatheia is the root for our word "apathy" (i.e., indifference), but the ancient meaning of apatheia is closer to equanimity than indifference.

Simplifying greatly, achieving apatheia is straightforward: Care about only those things you are in control of. Leave the rest behind. Upon reflection, according to the stoic thinkers, the only thing you DO have control over is your character and virtue. So, you worry about that and nothing else. That is, you worry about and work on what kind of person you are. What happens to you, event-wise, is largely out of your control. And, thus, out of the realm of your interests and passions. So, no matter what life throws at you, you deal with it, well, apathetically. Only your character matters, emotionally, to you.

The early Christians resonated with the stoic writings. And well they should as there are apathetic themes throughout the bible. Some quick examples:

"Don't lay up treasures on earth where moth and rust decay and thieves break in and steal."

"God makes it to rain on the just and unjust."

"Consider it a joy when you face trials, for the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

The point being that we don't get caught up in trying to change the circumstances we find ourselves in. Circumstances are fickle (e.g., thieves break in and steal) and have no moral goal (i.e., it rains on the just and unjust). Thus, it is futile to invest in changing circumstance. It is better to learn to endure, to deal with the fortunes of fate with apatheia. Equanimity. Calmness. Peace of mind.

So here is what I've been thinking...

I wonder if the notion of a "personal relationship with God" interferes with the stoic and Christian advice to treat fickle circumstance with apatheia? For example, we get sick. How should we approach this illness? The stoics and parts of the biblical witness would suggest we approach it with equanimity. But highly anthropomorphic and relational notions of God appear to block this route for many. That is, God is seen as both able and desirous of aiding the ailing Christian. Thus, this notion of God leaves open the possibility that God might change my circumstance. And this potential for changed circumstance doesn't allow the person to fully step into apatheia. As a result, the person never learns the skills of true peace and courage. Rather, they are looking to hit that Providential lottery ticket.

This musing left me with a few questions:

Are strongly relational notions of God morally and psychologically weakening us? That is, are these notions inhibiting apatheia?

Are many of our theological worries (e.g., unanswered prayer) the product of failures of apatheia? That is, rather than accepting our circumstance we wring our hands at why God is not answering us.

Have these relational notions of God got us focused on the wrong issues? That is, rather than focusing on issues of claiming God's blessings, protections, and promises should we not be more focused, as the stoics suggested, on our character?