Preserving and Rebuilding Dignity in Times of Crisis- A Christian-psychological reflection inspired by the story of Hagar

In a world marked by injustice, abuse of power, and betrayal, it is often the most vulnerable who carry the heaviest burdens. Especially women, children, and those in war and crisis zones are exposed to losses of control, relationships, and personal integrity. But what does it really mean to help someone in crisis preserve or rebuild their dignity? And how can we do so in a way that not only alleviates symptoms but restores a deep sense of value, meaning, and belonging?A central point of reflection here is the story of Hagar from the Bible (Genesis 16 and 21). Hagar is one of the first women depicted as cast out, exploited, and yet seen and honored by God. The story of Hagar – the Egyptian maidservant who becomes the mother of Abraham's first son, Ishmael – is a narrative of crisis, flight, and restoration.

The Psychology of Dignity: Four Core Needs

This essay introduces a new model based on four existential core needs: Control, Belonging, Soothing, and Dignity. These concepts are shaped by reflections and experiences drawn from working with people in vulnerable and traumatic situations. The model is not academically published but functions as a reflective tool that can inspire empathy, psychological insight, and spiritual awareness when engaging with people in crisis.

• Control refers to the ability to navigate and act meaningfully amid chaos.
• Belonging refers to knowing that one is part of a community, that one is seen and wanted.
• Soothing involves comfort, safety, and care during pain and loss.
• Dignity is about being treated with respect and maintaining a sense of having the right to be, to feel, and to express.

When these needs are threatened or destroyed, people often resort to survival strategies that may manifest as apathy, perfectionism, self-erasure, or dependency. But beneath the surface lies a struggle to preserve what makes us human: dignity.

Hagar – The Invisible One Who is Seen

Hagar experiences the ultimate loss: she loses her social status, her security, and her body is used to fulfill the desires of others. She becomes pregnant by her mistress’ husband and is humiliated when she begins to show signs of self-worth. Sarah expels her, and Hagar flees into the desert – alone and vulnerable.But something pivotal happens in the desert: God meets her. Not with condemnation, but with recognition: "You are the God who sees me," says Hagar. She receives a new identity, a new direction, and a promise. This encounter becomes the turning point where her dignity is restored from within, not by the system that rejected her, but by God who acknowledges her.

The Dilemmas of Helping: Balancing Without Dominating

Helping people in crisis is not just about offering resources or advice. It involves entering a complex, often ambivalent reality. Many may carry shame and guilt; others may have lost trust in themselves, in the system, or in God.This is where the idea of a "dignity balance" becomes important. It involves:

• Offering people options (control) without abandoning them.
• Providing comfort and soothing without making them passive.
• Strengthening relationships and networks without creating dependency.
• Affirming people’s worth and identity without taking over their story.

In practice, this means meeting another person with questions like: "What is important to you right now?", "What do you need?", "What would make it easier to be you today?" – rather than telling them what they should feel or do.

From Object to Subject: The Therapeutic Approach

A key insight from the story of Hagar is the difference between being treated as an object and as a subject. When Sarah refers to Hagar, she doesn't mention her name but says "this maidservant." She reduces Hagar to a function.Meeting people in crisis with respect involves opening space for subjectivity. Acknowledging their story, their pain, their choices. Not just the rational ones, but also the flawed and conflicted. Therapeutic and pastoral care in crisis must be more listening than directive.

The Spiritual Dimension: God as the One Who Sees

For many Christians, especially in mission contexts, it is a deep comfort to believe that God sees us when no one else does. Hagar names God "El-Roi" – the God who sees. This spiritual element is not secondary, but central to the work with dignity.A person who has experienced being seen, loved, and called by God can begin to rebuild an inner foundation, even amid external chaos. The spiritual dimension offers not only comfort but also a new identity: I am seen. I am wanted. I have worth.

Systems That Support or Undermine

Dignity is not only broken by personal betrayal but also by systemic conditions: social inequality, racism, patriarchal structures, religious control, refugee policy, poverty, etc. It is crucial that organizations working with vulnerable groups are also aware of their own structural impact:

• Are we creating spaces where people are seen and met as subjects?
• Do we listen to their voices?
• Are we offering real participation and influence?

Organizations, churches, and NGOs must continually ask themselves: "What view of humanity underpins our aid?" – Is it shaped by respect, reciprocity, and spiritual humility?

Growing in Dignity

The beauty of the Hagar story is that her dignity is not bestowed by humans but discovered and affirmed by God. This discovery empowers her: she survives, raises her son, and builds a new life in the desert.As Christian helpers and therapists, we are called to walk alongside people on this journey. We are not God. We are not saviors. But we can be witnesses and companions who remind others that their story is not over. That it is still possible to find meaning, belonging, soothing, and dignity.

Final Word: A Call to Empathy and Respect

Working with people in crisis is not just about technique or knowledge – it is about posture. If we meet others with open eyes and genuine respect for their inner journey, we can help restore what the world has taken from them. Hagar was seen. She was acknowledged. And she found a new name for God: El-Roi. May our work also create spaces where people are seen again, met again as subjects – and given the chance to grow in dignity once more.

Written by: Maria Christina Handberg