Reading back through history, we'd be hard pressed to find any commentary or reference to 'when times were faster'. Often, we stop and recognize just how fast-paced life is now, compared to yesterday... we bustle, we hustle, we scurry, we flurry. We rarely have any time in our past that was 'a faster paced life'... society has advanced into an efficient, and well tuned lifestyle.
In fact, the infamous Psalms 46:10 passage might read better to start with, "Log-off, and know that I am God..."! But, it actually reads; "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." Odd to think about the 'affect' part of that passage; when we 'still' ourselves, He is exalted; when we get out of His way, He is exalted; when we allow it, He is exalted.
Way too many 'well intending' people are busy 'doing His work' (they feel), but they actually miss the core ministry and calling. Choosing which part/thing to do is easy, once you still you spirit and let Him bless you. In fact, Luke 10:39-42 is a lengthy passage involving Martha (busy serving Jesus) and Mary (busy anointing Jesus' feet), and Jesus captures the difference with verse 42: "But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Bustling about 'feels' like we are doing the Lord's will, but all that activity may be disguising a genuine calling, a spirit-led fellowship. To an 'untrained eye' (non-Christians), this can be unfortunately misleading... sending a 'work hard for the Lord' message that puts the cart before the horse. 1 Corinthians 14:33 reminds us; "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." Take some time of 'inaction', and God will make His action clear to you. Being still is not a sin, nor neglecting God... rather, this is His time to fellowship with you, and you with Him. Make yourself inactive, and watch how active, productive, and blessed He will make you!