Why and How to Stay

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
(Philippians 1:18-30 ESV)
In Context, Paul is talking about what is best for the furtherance of the gospel.  His personal choice was for God to take him home, for persecution to have its ultimate success and martyr him.  But he was more committed to what God wanted to through him.  While he was waiting in jail, the Philippians were having some problems of their own, which was causing some to lose their joy. He wanted them to stay where they were, unified in spirit, to send a clear message to their persecutors that they really believed, and were confident in Christ of their ultimate salvation, whether it be by their death or Christ's return.  He wanted them, and us, to have the same perspective as he did, that we need to be ready to go or to stay, trusting in Him to decide where and when and how. May we be faithfully prepared.