The Message of Hope in "Righteous" by Juice WRLD

On December 8, 2021, the world lost a music legend and symbol of hope when Juice WRLD was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Per sources, he “had been transferred from Chicago Midway International Airport after suffering from a ‘medical emergency’ upon landing in Chicago from California.”

Sources allege that he specifically “swallowed multiple Percocet pills in order to hide them from federal agents” (source). The federal authorities were specifically thought to be waiting for Juice WLRD “‘because they suspected” that they would find contraband material” due to a tip from the pilot (source). The pilot’s tip was correct as “six bottles of prescription codeine cough syrup, two 9 mm pistols, a .40-caliber pistol, a high-capacity ammunition magazine and metal-piercing bullet” (source). This shows how in lieu of allowing himself to be arrested while in possession of drugs on his , he instead chose to take the drugs (Percocet, oxycodone and codeine) and ended up overdosing and dying via toxicity from a combination of those substances.

The ties between the song “Righteous” and Juice WRLD’s death are made obvious via the opening scene of the music video for Righteous, as the music video opens with a scene of a plane cruising at altitude, shown below.

This article discusses how Juice WRLD’s death and the music video and lyrics for his song “Righteous” is similar to what we experience when, instead of going to God and others with our personal struggles, we choose to cover them up and keep them from God and others.

From a more practical, worldly perspective, we can look at the broader question of rehabilitation versus retribution. Rehabilitation focuses on helping individuals reform and reintegrate into society by addressing the underlying factors that contribute to criminal behavior.  Retribution, on the other hand, emphasizes punishment as a means of justice, ensuring the guilty are punished and societal balance is restored after a crime. One would question if Juice WRLD’s decision would be different if rehabilitation were more top-of-mind instead of the negative ramifications on his life that would come through various forms of retribution.

However, instead of focusing further in this article on the criminal justice system, this article focuses on the message of the impact that Christ has on the lives of believers. Specifically, believers in the death and resurrection of Christ don’t have to pay the retributions associated with their crimes against God - Christ has already covered and paid for those sins. All that believers must do is acknowledge their need for Christ’s help in their lives and making them pure.

The Cycle of Addiction

Addiction is a three-phase cycle - “binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative affect, and preoccupation/anticipation - that worsens over time and involves dramatic changes in the brain reward, stress, and executive function systems” (source). The three phases of the addiction cycle and associated brain regions are depicted in the image below (source).

• Binge / Intoxication: “The stage at which an individual consumes an intoxicating substance and experiences its rewarding or pleasurable effects” (source).

• Withdrawal / Negative Affect: “The stage at which an individual experiences a negative emotional state in the absence of the substance” (source).

• Preoccupation / Anticipation: “The stage at which one seeks substances again after a period of abstinence” (source).

What the above image and process does not include, however, is the rationale for why people enter the cycle of addiction. Juice WRLD’s lyrics discuss how many people begin the cycle of addiction, noting that he is “taking medicine to fix all of the damage.” Individuals often choose to numb themselves as a coping mechanism when faced with interpersonal pain instead of processing these emotions in a helpful way. Notably, the scientific literature (this specifically focuses on drug addiction) highlights a few different ways that the addiction cycle begins (source):

• Biology: “The genes that people are born with account for about half of a person's risk for addiction.”

• Environment: “A person’s environment includes many different influences, from family and friends to economic status and general quality of life. Factors such as peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, early exposure to drugs, stress, and parental guidance can greatly affect a person’s likelihood of drug use and addiction.”

• Development: “Genetic and environmental factors interact with critical developmental stages in a person’s life to affect addiction risk. Although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, the earlier that drug use begins, the more likely it will progress to addiction. This is particularly problematic for teens. Because areas in their brains that control decision-making, judgment, and self-control are still developing, teens may be especially prone to risky behaviors, including trying drugs.”

I would encourage readers to approach this topic with empathy, as it can be difficult for those on the outside of these struggles to understand why those that are in the position of facing interpersonal struggles choose the route of drug usage. These interpersonal struggles can be incredibly isolating and result in people feeling alone, unseen, and unloved - Juice WRLD depicts this with his imagery “never seen a hell so cold.” The experience of interpersonal pain and trauma can be extremely deep and cause a significant amount of distress in an individual.

Interestingly enough, Juice WRLD’s choice of drug to mention, codeine, is a painkiller. Per the NHS, “codeine is from a group of medicines called opiates, or narcotics. It works in the central nervous system and the brain to block pain signals to the rest of the body. It also reduces the anxiety and stress caused by pain. When codeine blocks the pain, there are other unwanted effects, such as slow or shallow breathing.” (source).

Juice WRLD’s mother said it best: “Addiction knows no boundaries and its impact goes way beyond the person fighting it. Jarad was a son, brother, grandson, friend and so much more to so many people who wanted more than anything to see him defeat addiction […] we hope the conversations he started in his music and his legacy will help others win their battles as that is what he wanted more than anything” (source).

A Message of Hope

At the same point in the song that Juice WRLD expresses a message of hopelessness (”I’m in too deep / we’re drowning”) the video transitions away from scenes of Juice WRLD’s life and begins a cartoon depiction of Juice WLRD fighting his demons in a hand-to-hand combat set against an apocalyptic, hellish backdrop. The only way out of the cycle of addiction is to choose to fight, and that fight is made easier when done together. As Juice WRLD says, “Yeah we’ll make it out I know / run right through the flames lets go.” Juice WRLD specifically chooses to use “we’ll” instead of “I’ll,” thereby embodying the message of how this is a group effort instead of one that can be done alone - recovery is possible when done in the light of accountability. Juice WRLD’s lyrics show the hopelessness of fighting alone, noting “I’m in too deep / can’t swim like me / we’re drowning.”

A recent sermon by Tyler Staton at Bridgetown Church on the topic of purity highlighted a three-step method in the process of sanctification. One component of this process was “vision,” or a mental picture or idea of what the end result looks like. It can feel like we are unable to get out when we don’t have a vision or picture of how we can escape the cycles of addiction that we are stuck in at the time. By listening to the stories of others that have been in the same position before, we are empowered with the knowledge that there is a way out of these cycles.​​​​​​​

Eventually the demons begin to fight themselves and that leads to their eventual demise. This shows how when we choose to expose our issues to the light and voluntarily receive help, the issues themselves become less powerful. The act of confession to other believers and exposing the truth of what is going on in ourselves can lead to the receipt of help and can leave our addictions with less power. Believers and addicts can end the cycles of shame by showing their true selves and choosing and being received with love and empathy - the later point being incredibly important. Many times systems stop at the exposure and continue to place further shame on individuals instead of meeting them where they are at and with understanding. Empathy is incredibly important.

The Importance of Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It involves stepping into their shoes and seeing the world from their perspective, allowing you to feel what they feel, even if you haven't experienced the same situation. Notably, there are a few different kinds of empathy that exist, each of which offer lessons for readers in helping those in crisis situations:

• Cognitive Empathy: Understanding a person's thoughts and beliefs.

• Emotional Empathy: Feeling what another person feels.

• Compassionate Empathy: Doing something about another person's distress

Source: https://blog.mindvalley.com/cognitive-empathy/

There are different neurobiological sources for empathy, which are highlighted below. Interestingly enough, emotional and cognitive empathy “appear to work independently,” but “every empathic response may still evoke both components to some extent, depending on the social context” (source).

• Emotional Empathy: The source of emotional empathy is “a neural network that includes the inferior frontal gyrus and the inferior parietal lobule is necessary for emotion recognition and emotional contagion” (source).

• Cognitive Empathy: The source of cognitive empathy is “the involvement of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction, and the medial temporal lobe in self-reflection and autobiographical memory places these key regions as necessary for cognitive empathy” (source).

Empathy is a crucial skill for building and maintaining healthy relationships and is a key component of showing compassion and acting with kindness. It is worth drawing a distinction between empathy and sympathy - empathy is about sharing in the feelings and understanding the perspective of another, whereas sympathy is about feeling sorry for someone. For example, someone may feel bad for another person going through a challenging breakup (sympathy) or could understand why that breakup is so challenging by thinking through what that person is experiencing and feeling those same feelings (empathy).

Each of us can be allies to those going through mental health journeys and facing challenging mental health issues. Actively advocating and meeting individuals with mental health issues is called being an “ally.” “Allies can play a pivotal role in mental health by providing emotional support, reducing stigma, and encouraging for access to mental health services” (source). I propose that empathy is one of the most critical tools in this process, and that action without empathy is often received as condescension and may be less helpful and result in estrangement.

There are a number of ways that individuals can be good allies to those with mental health issues, including by taking simple steps in the context of the workplace. Harvard Business Review highlights a few different ways that this can be done, including “talk one on one with colleagues who are struggling, use supportive language, educate yourself and colleagues about mental health, encourage group engagement, and create policies that help employees who need it.”

Empathy as a Catalyst

Empathy acts as a powerful catalyst in breaking the destructive cycle of addiction on multiple levels – for the individual struggling, their families, and the wider community. It fosters understanding, dismantles stigma, and creates a supportive environment conducive to healing and recovery. Below is a list of ways in which empathy helps to break the cycle of addiction (thanks AI for the help on this section):

• Reduces Shame and Isolation: Addiction is often accompanied by profound feelings of shame, guilt, and isolation. Individuals may feel judged and misunderstood, leading them to further withdraw and perpetuate the cycle. Empathy, expressed through genuine understanding and non-judgmental listening, can break down these walls. When someone feels seen and heard without condemnation, it can lessen the burden of shame and create a space for them to acknowledge their struggles and seek help.

• Fosters Self-Compassion: Internalized stigma and self-blame are common in addiction. Empathy from others can model self-compassion. When individuals experience understanding and kindness from those around them, it can help them begin to treat themselves with more compassion, which is vital for healing and long-term recovery.

• Builds Trust and Connection: Addiction often damages relationships. Empathy can help rebuild trust by demonstrating a genuine desire to understand the person's experience, rather than simply focusing on their behavior. This connection provides a crucial support system, reducing feelings of loneliness and increasing the likelihood of seeking and adhering to treatment.

• Motivates Change: When individuals feel understood and supported, they are more likely to be open to change. Empathy can help them feel less defensive and more willing to explore the underlying issues contributing to their addiction. It validates their pain and struggles, making the prospect of recovery feel less daunting and more achievable.

• Validates Their Experience: Addiction is complex and often rooted in trauma, mental health issues, or difficult life circumstances. Empathy acknowledges the pain and suffering that may have contributed to the development of the addiction, rather than simply labeling it as a moral failing. This validation can be incredibly powerful in helping individuals feel understood and less alone in their struggles.

• Promotes Healthier Communication: Empathy encourages active listening and open communication. When allies try to understand the addict's perspective, rather than just expressing their own pain and anger, it creates a more constructive dialogue that can lead to healthier boundaries and support strategies.

• Reduces Co-dependency: Co-dependent behaviors often arise from a place of fear and a desire to control the addict's behavior. Empathy can help allies understand their own emotional responses and develop healthier ways of relating, focusing on their own well-being while still offering support.

• Encourages Seeking Professional Help: When allies approach the situation with empathy, the individual struggling with addiction may be more receptive to seeking professional help. The lack of judgment and the presence of support can make the idea of treatment less threatening.

• Facilitates Reintegration: For individuals in recovery, societal empathy is crucial for successful reintegration into the community. Reduced stigma and increased understanding can open doors to employment, housing, and social connections, all of which are vital for long-term sobriety.

  
  

Specifically, the experience of empathy is tangible for believers of Jesus Christ, who can experience His empathy when they bring their problems and struggles to him in prayer and confession. In turn, Jesus receives believers with compassion and understanding instead of judgement and condemnation that would be given by God without Jesus’ death on the cross. However, if believers don’t allow Jesus to see these hidden parts, those parts are kept from redemption in Christ and don’t allow Jesus’ sacrifice of death on the cross to redeem those sins. In doing so, we lose the opportunity to be fully transformed by the Spirit and experience the love shown for us through his death on the cross.

It is a life-changing experience, if you have never had it yourself, to be fully seen by another person and accepted by them in all of your parts - the good and the very, very bad. We can each be of service to others by meeting them where they are at and hearing their stories with a perspective of empathy instead of condemnation, thereby offering others hope that there is understanding.

A Message of Hope

Returning to the music video and song - Juice WLRD eventually is hit into outer space by his final demon, perhaps symbolizing his death, but the fight continues as Juice WLRD awakens with the twitch of his hand and a spark of electricity. For Juice WRLD, the battle against his addictions and the fight he has claimed on behalf of those that have succumbed to the power of addictive substances persists even after his death. Juice WRLD should not be a symbol of another individual that was too weak to beat his demons, but one that offers an image of hope and the opportunity for redemption if we are honest enough with ourselves and transparent enough with those that hold us accountable.

As the music video ends, Juice WRLD exits the scene in a ray of light - but his message does not leave us. To this point we should turn to the key phrase in the song: “All white Gucci suit I’m feeling righteous.” It is worth noting that there are several Biblical references to wearing white and implications for this phrase in Juice WRLD’s verse:

• Jesus During the Transfiguration: Jesus was in white during the Transfiguration - this event, recorded in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36, describes Jesus' appearance changing dramatically on a mountain.  Sources include:

  • Matthew 17:2: "...his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light” (source).

  • Mark 9:3: "His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them” (source).

  • Luke 9:29: "...the appearance of his face was altered, and his robe became white and glistening” (source).

• Angels: Angels are often depicted wearing white (Matthew 28:3, John 20:12, Acts 1:10).

• Those Who Overcome: Those who overcome and are righteous are described as being clothed in white robes (Revelation 3:5, Revelation 6:11, Revelation 7:9, 13-14). This is likely what Juice WRLD is referring to in the verse, as to overcome means to successfully deal with or defeat a problem, difficulty, opponent, or negative feeling. It implies prevailing in a struggle or conflict and moving beyond a challenge.

To Be an Overcomer

In this message of overcoming, Juice WRLD offers hope to those that are stuck in addictive cycles, and symbolizes the redemptive power that Christ holds for us all when we bring all - yes, all - of ourselves to him in a posture of humility and asking for help. In a biblical context, "overcome" carries significant spiritual weight and refers to:

• Triumphing over Sin and Temptation: Believers are called to overcome the desires of the flesh and the temptations of the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 10:13 highlights that there is always a way out, stating “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (source).

• Enduring Trials and Tribulations: The Christian life is not without difficulties, and overcoming often involves persevering through suffering with faith and reliance on God. Romans 8:18 and 8:28 offer good sources of hope during times of trials and temptations. Romans 8:18 says "I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us” (source). Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God is working for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (source).

• Resisting Evil: Believers are encouraged to stand firm against the forces of darkness and overcome evil with good. Ephesians 6:10-18 encourages believers to "stand firm against the schemes of the devil" by putting on the full armor of God (source).

• Conquering the World: This doesn't necessarily mean physical domination, but rather not being controlled by the world's values and systems, instead living according to God's principles. Romans 8:13 is particularly poignant here: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (source).

Hopeless Without Jesus

The experience of being caught in the cycle of drug addiction is similar to a Christian experience of hopelessness without Jesus, but we are offered a path to righteousness through the coverage provided by Jesus’ death on the cross. The Bible consistently emphasizes the fallen nature of humanity and our inability to achieve true purity or righteousness on our own. It presents Jesus Christ as the necessary means for purification and reconciliation with God. There are a number of ways that the Bible shows this:

The Universal Nature of Sin: Scripture clearly states that all humanity is affected by sin and that impurity is a core aspect of the human condition, resulting in the inability to reach purity by ourselves:

• Romans 3:23: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This verse establishes that sin is not isolated but a universal human condition.

• Psalm 51:5: "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." This highlights the inherent nature of sin from our very beginning.

The Holiness of God: The Bible portrays God as absolutely holy and pure, and the sin and imperfections in each of us create a separation between ourselves and God:

• Isaiah 6:3: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." This emphasizes God's transcendent purity, a standard that fallen humanity cannot meet on its own merit.

The Insufficiency of Human Efforts (Law-Keeping): While the Old Testament Law provided guidelines for righteous living, the Bible shows that it could not ultimately make people pure or righteous in God's sight. The law can help lead us to Christ, but is only temporary and preparatory in its role:

• Romans 3:20: "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." The law reveals sin but doesn't provide the power to overcome it or achieve true purity.

Jesus Christ as the Source of Purification: The New Testament presents Jesus as the one who provides the means for cleansing and achieving righteousness:

• 1 John 1:7: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." This verse explicitly states that it is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from sin.

• 2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus, being sinless, took our sin upon himself, allowing us to receive God's righteousness through faith in him.

• Titus 3:5: "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." This emphasizes that salvation and purification are acts of God's grace through Christ, not our own works.

• Hebrews 9:14: "how much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" This highlights the cleansing power of Christ's sacrifice.

The Bible shows how we are inherently sinful individuals and that we cannot reach purity through our own works alone. Jesus Christ provides the path to be cleansed from sin and declared righteous in God’s sight through his sinless life, sacrificial death. and resurrection. Believers are unable to earn this purity but can receive this purity by grace through faith in Jesus. Each of us has the potential to be righteous, it is our choice to accept or reject.

Resources

As a final note, it would be amiss if I didn’t mention the LIVE FREE 999 charity, which “honors Jarad ‘Juice WRLD’ Higgins and supports young people in their battles with addiction, anxiety, and depression.” Their website includes a number of resources and statistics about mental and substance use disorders across the globe. Surprisingly enough, 18.5% of individuals in the United States as of 2021 had one of the following disorders: depression, anxiety, bipolar, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. Hopefully by acknowledging how common these issues are among the broader population can help encourage those that are faced with those issues to come forward and acknowledge if they need help.

Further, raising awareness of these issues can result in more help in the long term for this portion of the population. It can lead more individuals to be inspired to careers in the helping professions, can de-stigmatize these mental illnesses, and help each of us be better allies to those that have been involuntarily given these burdens to carry.

Two other places to go if you find yourself in need or wanting to be educated on mental illness are NAMI and Wondermind. NAMI is a great educational and broader source of help for mental illnesses, whereas Wondermind (founded by Selena Gomez and her mom!) offers accessible articles that are easy to digest and educational. If you are in crisis, as the LIVE FREE 999 website highlights, please feel free to text LF999 to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line for free crisis counseling.